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