Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for Barbados - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 12
Page 20
4.145 Oil exploration, production, refining, transport
The National Petroleum Corporation of Barbados, through Exploration Consultants Ltd.
(U. K.), as well as private companies who have bought exploratory concessions from the
Government of Barbados, have conducted preliminary oil exploration off Barbados over the past
few years. The results of seismic soundings and preliminary drilling suggest that there are large
reserves of petroleum (crude oil) within 30 km of the west coast of Barbados. The water there is
at least 1 km deep; thus, production from this reserve will be expensive. However, if oil prices
rise sufficiently, it is expected that large-scale drilling will take place. Sea turtles are potentially
very vulnerable to oil spills. Studies suggest that the turtles have a limited ability to avoid oil
slicks. Physiological experiments indicate that the respiration, skin, some aspects of blood
chemistry and composition, and salt gland function of 15-18 month old loggerheads are seriously
affected by crude oil (Vargo et al., 1986). In both experimental and stranded oil-fouled turtles,
Vargo et al. (1986) observed oil clinging to the nares (=nostrils) and eyes and in the upper
portion of the esophagus; oil was also found in the feces.
Beach tar deposits have been monitored at selected sites around the island as part of the
CARIPOL programme, the marine pollution research and monitoring programme of IOCARIBE
[Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's Regional Sub-commission for the Caribbean
and Adjacent Regions]. Owing to the current direction, east coast beaches are susceptible to any
current-bourne pollutants. Most of the tar ball deposits on these beaches are thought to be
derived from oil tankers washing out their holds between cargoes. Barbados is in a vulnerable
position in that it lies in the path of tankers passing to the north and south of the island en route
for Trinidad, South America, and the Gulf of Mexico. An additional source of beach tar may be
derived from natural sea floor oil seeps off the east coast of the island.
Relatively small amounts of high grade oil are pumped from land-based wells to the
southeast of Barbados. More refined hydrocarbons such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene are
pumped ashore from tankers moored off Oistins on the south coast and off Brighton on the west
coast. Legislation exists to protect against fouling of territorial waters and beaches by oil (section
4.21). Nonetheless, every precaution should be taken to protect Barbados from the degradation
and expense of a spill or accident. The vast expense of cleaning up oil spills could probably be
met only through international cooperative agreements and sharing of costs, as encouraged by
the Protocol to the Cartagena Convention [Convention on the Protection and Development of the
Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region] concerning Oil Spills. Barbados ratified
the Cartagena Convention and the Oil Spill Protocol in May 1985 (section 4.32).
4.146 Agricultural runoff and sewage
Run-off and soil erosion are serious problems in Barbados. Most agricultural land is still
under sugar cane cultivation and field peripheries are lined with low hedges of khus khus grass
(Vetiveria zizanioides). The khus khus serves to keep top soil on the field following cane
harvest. With the increasing mechanization of cane harvest, khus khus hedges are being
removed for vehicle access and soil erosion and run-off are worsening. Attempts to diversify
agriculture away from cane cultivation and into vegetable production are underway. However,
since vegetables cannot compete with weeds as well as the taller sugar cane can, farmers resort