Oil spill in Mumbai affected regeneration of mangroves: Study

One India News 24 Jan 11;

Mumbai, Jan 24 (PTI) The oil spill caused by the collision between two merchant vessels off the city coast las tyear has affected the regeneration of the mangrove vegetation,according to a study.

However, the mature stands of the most populated mangrove, Avicennia, was least affected by the marine disaster that occurred over five months ago, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a city-based NGO, has said.

"Avicennia marina has survived through several decades of heavy pollutions at Mumbai coast. Its mature stands were least affected by the oil spill. However, the spill certainly affected the regeneration putting the entire population of mangroves at stake," Deepak Apte, BNHS Deputy Director(conservation) said in his interim report on "Study of impact of oil spill on mangroves of Mumbai and Raigad coast from August to November 2010."

The final report is expected in November as more seasonal data is required to attain a sound idea about impact on mangrove seedling establishment as well as faunal communities, Apte said.

"The collision and subsequent oil spill certainly caused significant disturbance to the marine and coastal habitats. The oil, which spread over about 12.73 sq km area,had its own serious consequences over the marine life."

The study also reported three dead Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphins - two at Uran and one at Sasvane - both in adjoining Raigad district.

The mangrove community on Mumbai and surrounding coastal mudflats are dominated by Avicennia. (more) PTI LV RSYETB

Two cargo ships - MSC Chitra and MV Khalija - had collided on August 9. This had resulted in the release of an estimated 400 to 500 tonnes of fuel oil from their fuel tanks.

Following the crash, one of them, MSC Chitra, had tilted sharply and containers loaded on it had fallen into the sea.

As many as 31 of the 1,219 containers loaded on the vessels had hazardous chemicals, including pesticides.

The study covered oil spill affected coastal areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Raigad districts including Colaba, Gharapuri, Vashi, Sewri, Karanja, Uran, Rewas, Mandava, Sasavane, Awas and Khim, Apte said

It said monitoring of ecologically sensitive species is important to assess the long-term impacts of the spill.

The reduction of oil content of the soil samples from August to September and from September to October varied largely from site to site. This can be attributed to the tidal movements and consequently oil being washed off from one place and getting deposited at the other, Apte added.