Three Months After Oil Spill, Peru Fishermen Remain Without Work
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 16, 2022 | 01:10 AM
Lima, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Apr, 2022 ) :Three months after an oil spill that polluted beaches and killed wildlife in Peru, hundreds of fishermen remain out of work as Easter approaches.
"We never imagined spending such a sad Holy Week because normally people eat fish at this time," Anthony Chumpitaz, president of a local traditional fishermen association, told AFP.
Almost 12,000 barrels of crude spilled into the sea off Peru on January 15 as a tanker unloaded oil at a refinery owned by Spanish energy giant Repsol in Ventanilla, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Lima.
Carried by ocean currents, the oil spread some 140 kilometers northwards, killing hundreds of sea birds and forcing fishermen to abandon their work due to pollution described as an ecological disaster by the government.
At least 5,000 traditional fishermen and traders in Lima and the neighboring province of Huaral have been affected by the spill, according to the government.
Many fish and seafood restaurants have been forced to close.
"I feel outraged. I have no work. We weren't ready for this spill," Rocio Alonzo Espinar, 30, a fish merchant in Ventanilla, told AFP as he cooked noodles with canned tuna at a soup kitchen.
Several soup kitchens have sprung up in the area since the spill.
Repsol, which blamed the spill on a volcanic eruption 10,000 kilometers away near Tonga in the Pacific, has agreed to pay fishermen and shopkeepers compensation.
Chumpitaz says those affected have so far only received a payment of 500 soles ($125) in January plus another advance payment of 3,000 soles.
There has still been no agreement on the total compensation to be paid to individuals.
"The cost of living is increasing and that's affecting us a lot," said Chumpitaz from the Cavero beach in Ventanilla, where several Repsol employees continue to clean up and decontaminate the area.
At the end of March, the Spanish company said it had cleaned up 95 percent of the coastal and maritime areas suffering from pollution.
Repsol denies responsibility for the spill and has made a claim against the Italian owner of the tanker involved in the accident.
Peruvian authorities have ordered the Mare Doricum tanker to remain anchored off its coast for the duration of the investigation into the disaster.
Eight directors of Repsol Peru, including its Spanish president Jaime Fernandez-Cuesta Luca de Tena, are under investigation and have been barred from leaving the country for 18 months.
Peru's environmental evaluation and control body has hit Repsol with five fines for a total of $620,000.
The environment ministry says at least 500 hectares of protected marine reserve have been affected by the spill.
REPSOL
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dubai Mum Becomes the First Ever Pakistani Woman to Climb 11 of the 14 Highest M ..
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
18 hours ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
18 hours ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
18 hours ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
2 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
3 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
5 days ago
-
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
5 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
7 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
8 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
8 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
8 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
10 days ago