Toxic cargo poses threat to marine life
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Kozhikode: The marine life and ecology in the Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast face serious threat if the hazardous chemicals aboard the Singapore-flagged vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which is on fire, were to leak into the sea, especially during the ongoing fish breeding season.
The vessel is now 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal coast.
The ship is carrying tonnes of highly dangerous substances, including 16 officially classified marine pollutants and dozens of other toxic chemicals. Some of them are known carcinogens which can have long-term impact on marine ecology as well as human health.
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI ) has started collecting seawater samples to check for chemical presence.
The chemicals which have chronic marine toxicity in the cargo manifest include trichlorobenzene which affects aquatic life, hydroquinone which also has mutagenic potential and tetrachloroethylene which is a probable carcinogen among many others.
CMFRI Kozhikode regional station head Anulekshmi Chellappan said the hazardous and toxic chemicals, as per the list shared, if leaked to the sea, may negatively affect the marine life, especially since it is the fish breeding season.
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However, the extent of the impact can only be determined after a detailed scientific study and understanding of the spilled items and their magnitude.
"We've already started collecting and testing water samples and sediments from coastal waters of Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Fish samples are also being taken from traditional vessels. Based on prevailing southern and southeastern currents and advisories from Incois, the effects are likely to be felt most significantly in the districts from Kozhikode to Kochi," she said.
She said of the 157 listed substances aboard the vessel, at least 43 are classified as marine pollutants. "Pollutants from ship could still harm marine ecosystems," she said.
"We have initiated a study and monitoring to estimate how much of the ship spills, hazardous substances listed in the cargo manifest would impact marine organisms," she said.
Anulekshmi added that the small-scale fisheries are operating close to shore far away from accident area and this is a ban period for mechanised fishing operated mostly in offshore waters.
Kufos aquatic environment department head Anu Gopinath said the incident involving MV Wan Hai would pose a more serious threat to marine life and ecology when compared to the recent sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kochi coast.
"What is of concern is the huge quantity of hazardous substances in the cargo. There are category 6 pesticides and many other toxic substances. If they reach the sea, then the damage could be huge. It might not manifest in the next few days or weeks, and we have to look at the effect of the chemicals on the Kerala coast and marine environment in the long term. We need to do comprehensive long-term monitoring to see the extent of the spread and see if the marine life is having a concentration of the chemicals," she said.
Gopinath added that apart from fish which has some ability to evade adverse conditions like these, other sedentary marine life forms and microorganisms would also be most affected.
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