Following the oil-spill due to a downpour overwhelming SONARA’s waste water treatment catchment in the night of 3-4 August, the local administration of Fako Division, S

ONARA experts and specialists from the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINNEPDED) as well as the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry, visited the scene and have resolved to clear the situation.

While the administration regrets that some persons readily took fish out of that area, SONARA technicians are insisting on investigating the cause of immediate death of fish on that spot.

The team of experts and authorities led by Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III, will have to address questions like “Why the place of the incident undergoing works by the National Shipyard was not under security? Are petroleum products so lethal as to kill fish instantly? Did the fish die of toxic substance other than hydrocarbon observed on the spot? Have there been any incidents of people killing fish with poisonous substances in the Limbe sea-shore? How is petroleum by-product dangerous to the environment? How can a future occurrence be guarded against? The Fako SDO explains the situation. Read on…

“We’ve Taken Measures To Curb the Situation”

Zang III, Senior Divisional Officer for Fako.

Mr. SDO, an incident of pollution happened at SONARA installations in Limbe. Are you aware of that situation?

I am the one who was first aware on Monday 5 August 2013 that some incident happened at the coastal area near SONARA. The cause was the wreckless disposal of some fuel and leakage coming from SONARA installations. The hydrocarbon went right into the sea and killed some fish. As soon as I was informed I sent my Divisional Delegate of Environment to go there and investigate about the matter. She did the job and that very day she brought me the report. It was maritime pollution by SONARA fuel.

What is the situation on the ground now?

I want to tell you that after the report of the Divisional Delegate, I called the General Manager of SONARA. We held a meeting on Wednesday August 7 with his collaborators and my technical services to discuss the matter and find out if something can be done. I think that we worked in a very good spirit. He explained the matter and it was cross-checked to find out what solutions can be taken to curb the situation. As of now, they have taken some measures in the short and long term to stop the situation.

What was the impact of that pollution?

Some fish were killed and unfortunately some vandals took it to the population. But as of now I cannot tell you the consequence of that act but I can tell you that, for now, the situation is mastered by SONARA and they have taken all measures.

Are you confident that the situation will not continue in the future?

I am confident because the General Manager and his collaborators are aware of the problem. They have recognised that it is a real problem and they are working to avoid such future occurrence. In the short term they have cleaned the water and in the long term they have taken more appropriate measures.

Have similar incidents happened in the past?

Some incidents occurred in the past but I think they are working on it because they are aware of their responsibility. They know that it is a difficult situation and they are working on it.