Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 6. Environmental Issues, Regulations, and Agreements
Draft 1 March 2007
Rodent Cake Warfrin Solid Cardboard
box
2 kg 4 Good
Trichloroethylene - Liquid Drum 2 L 2 V. Poor,
empty
Chemicals found and packaged were stored in a container on Tarawa for eventual shipment to
Australia for plasma conversion neutralization (Pollution Control Unit 2006). If oil found is
contaminated, it will also be shipped to Australia, if not, it can be used on Tarawa.
VESSEL GROUNDINGS AND OIL SPILLS
The Phoenix Islands have had numerous vessel groundings over the years. One of the earliest
recorded groundings was the whaleship Canton on Abariringa (Canton) in 1854 (Bryan 1941
and 1942).
During the guano period (c1856 to c1887), the following vessel groundings were reported:
1) 1884, Howard de Tropp, Abariringa (Canton) (Ellis 1937);
2) 1866, Golden Sunset, Enderbury (Bryan 1941 and 1942);
3) c1884, Lorenza, Manra (Sydney) (Bryan 1941 and 1942);
4) 1867, Washington, McKean (Anon. 1868);
More recent vessel groundings included:
1) 1937, Makoa, Orona (Hull) (Robson 1956);
2) 1940, Admiral Day, Abariringa (Canton) (Oates 2003);
3) 1942, President Taylor, Abariringa (Canton) (McIntire 1960); and
4) 2001, Chance No. 301, McKean (Internationa Maritime Organization 2004).
These were vessel groundings that were reported. Undoubtedly, there have been other
groundings that were not permanent, did not resulting in vessel loss, or were not reported.
Newer motor driven ships of the 20 th century probably caused more oil pollution as most 19 th
century sailing ships. Both types of ships would have caused coral damage during grounding
and breakup.
CORAL BLEACHING
In July to September 2002, there was a hot-spot in the Phoenix Islands (Planetary Coral Reef
Foundation 2004). Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (2004) speculated that this was the
cause of mass bleaching in 2002 that were most notable in the lagoons of Abariringa
(Kanton) and Orona.
Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (2006) reported that the bleaching event took place in
November and December 2004. Bleaching in Abariringa (Canton) lagoon was 100 percent.
Extensive and recent coral bleaching was reported for the Phoenix Islands (Anon. 2005).
This was unusual as coral bleaching had not previously been reported from Kiribati.
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