Oceana Gives Update on Risk of Devastating Oil Spill in Manila Bay

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – An Oceana analysis of satellite imagery from the Philippine Space Agency shows the Manila Bay oil spill – resulting from a submerged oil tanker and at least two other vessels – covered 84 square kilometers on July 28, and 27 square kilometers as of July 30. Karagatan Patrol, an online platform established by Oceana, estimates this impacts 50% of Manila Bay, with the oil pollution reaching Cavite, Bulacan, and Bataan.

The Philippine-flagged vessel MT Terra Nova sank in Manila Bay on July 25 due to heavy rains and rough waters from Typhoon Gaemi. The now-submerged tanker holds 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil on board. At least two other vessels also sank, one of which was carrying diesel fuel as cargo, causing further oil pollution to Manila Bay. The Philippine Coast Guard said they are “preparing for the worst.”

Traces of oil have already been seen in fishing villages in the provinces of Bulacan and Cavite. The latter province’s Ternate Marine Park, a beach destination for locals and tourists, and a nesting area for sea turtles, is expected to also be impacted by the spill. Eight towns in Cavite have declared a “state of calamity:” Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate. The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act defines a state of calamity as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources estimates that tens of thousands of fishers in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Cavite will be impacted, with monthly revenue losses of as much as PHP83.8 million (almost $1.5 million) in Bataan and above PHP70 million (more than $1.2 million) in Bulacan and Pampanga. The Philippine government is providing support to displaced fishers in Cavite.

A no-catch and no-sell zone for all shellfish was issued in the province of Cavite, which is one of the largest provinces of the Philippines with more than 4 million people. Seafood from Manila Bay sustains people living in metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines. Manila Bay is also an important spawning ground for fish like sardines, which play an important role in the food chain and are the most accessible source of animal protein for millions of Filipinos. Oceana says the oil spill can smother, suffocate, and kill the important mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds in Manila Bay, which are essential for the breeding and feeding of numerous marine species. Manila Bay is also a key habitat for around 60 migratory bird species, 12 of which are threatened, which are about to begin their migration this month. The destruction of these habitats leads to long-term ecological damage for years to come and puts the coastal nation at further risk from increasing storms.

Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Oceana’s Vice President in the Philippines, released the following statement in response to the latest developments:

“Toxic oil spills in our oceans are like fires in our forests, leaving a path of destruction that brings decades of negative impacts. We know oil spills are a deathtrap for marine ecosystems, and have negative consequences on people, wildlife, and our environment. If the more than one million liters of oil onboard are not safely removed, the resulting spill could kill marine wildlife, destroy our mangroves, and put people’s health, food source, and livelihoods at risk. We know what’s at stake here: jobs, food, exports, and even lives. Even after the oil pollution is cleaned up, seafood may be contaminated for years. The people of the Philippines will be dealing with the impacts of this devastation long after the headlines fade, and the government must do everything it can to mitigate this disaster as quickly as possible.

While typhoons are out of our control, less dependence on dirty oil is in our control. Moving away from fossil fuels will protect our communities, fisheries, jobs, and wildlife from the devastation of inevitable oil spills. We must transition away from fossil fuels and toward a clean energy future. The health and safety of our oceans, and the people who rely on them, hangs in the balance.”

For more information on the impact of the oil spill and the ongoing response, contact Oceana or visit ph.oceana.org.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.