Waste Management and Pollution Control
The need for an integrated regional approach to the management of World War II wrecks in the Pacific region was a hot topic of conversation at the Pacific Environment Forum in Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands on Monday 29 September, 2014.
Mr Andrew Yatilman from the Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM) in Federated States of Micronesia spoke to the Forum about the growing threat posed by hazardous leakage from World War II wrecks in the Federated States of Micronesia. Mr Yatilman explained that Chuuk Lagoon contains upwards of 60 sunken vessels dating back to World War II - at least six of which are currently leaking oil into the lagoon.
"We are seeking assistance from partners and donors so that we can conduct an assessment to determine the status, risk and cost associated with retrieving the oil from those wrecks that are causing, or have the potential to cause, the most harm."
Mr Yatilman's concerns were echoed by many participants who believe that a detailed assessment of oil leakage from high risk wrecks in the Pacific should be undertaken.
Mr David Sheppard, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) supports the call from members for increased support.
"SPREP has provided significant technical support to members regarding the threat posed by oil leakage from World War II wrecks. In Federated States of Micronesia, for example, we have worked very closely with OEEM to map the potential impact of oil leakage from key unstable wrecks in Chuuk lagoon."
Mr Sheppard explains that the urgency of acting on this issue is related to the fact that, 60 years on, many of these vessels are now starting to corrode.
"SPREP strongly supports the call for increased funding to properly address the issue of World War II wrecks across the Pacific region. It is essential that we act quickly on this issue to minimise the potential harm to environmental and human health."
There are in excess 3,600 World War II wrecks registered globally, but the most vulnerable locations are those in the Pacific region with Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands identified as being areas of high risk for oil leakage from sunken vessels.
Mr Andrew Yatilman from the Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM) in Federated States of Micronesia spoke to the Forum about the growing threat posed by hazardous leakage from World War II wrecks in the Federated States of Micronesia. Mr Yatilman explained that Chuuk Lagoon contains upwards of 60 sunken vessels dating back to World War II - at least six of which are currently leaking oil into the lagoon.
"We are seeking assistance from partners and donors so that we can conduct an assessment to determine the status, risk and cost associated with retrieving the oil from those wrecks that are causing, or have the potential to cause, the most harm."
Pictured above: Mr Andrew Yatilman at the Pacific Environment Forum on Monday.
Mr Yatilman's concerns were echoed by many participants who believe that a detailed assessment of oil leakage from high risk wrecks in the Pacific should be undertaken.
Mr David Sheppard, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) supports the call from members for increased support.
"SPREP has provided significant technical support to members regarding the threat posed by oil leakage from World War II wrecks. In Federated States of Micronesia, for example, we have worked very closely with OEEM to map the potential impact of oil leakage from key unstable wrecks in Chuuk lagoon."
Above: World War II wrecks in the Federated States of Micronesia EEZ
Mr Sheppard explains that the urgency of acting on this issue is related to the fact that, 60 years on, many of these vessels are now starting to corrode.
"SPREP strongly supports the call for increased funding to properly address the issue of World War II wrecks across the Pacific region. It is essential that we act quickly on this issue to minimise the potential harm to environmental and human health."
There are in excess 3,600 World War II wrecks registered globally, but the most vulnerable locations are those in the Pacific region with Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands identified as being areas of high risk for oil leakage from sunken vessels.