SYDNEY, April 7 - A marine expert warned on Wednesday part of the Great Barrier Reef would suffer damage from an oil leak and chemicals used to disperse it.
Associate Professor Peter Harrison, the director of Marine Studies at Southern Cross University, said coral spawning could be affected later this year.
Several tons of fuel oil leaked from a coal carrier when it ran aground inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park on Saturday, and chemicals were used to disperse the resulting slick.
Harrison noted oil can have dire effects on coral ecosystems and chemicals used to break up slicks are also toxic to corals.
"And in some cases the combination of oil and dispersant have increased synergistic effects," said Harrison, who is also the director of the university's Coral Reef Research Center.
"This highlights the importance of trapping the oil in booms and physically removing any spilled oil, rather than relying on dispersants."
He said that if any oil became embedded in the coral reef and sand it would have long-lasting effects.
It would be spread around tides and wave action, creating " chronic long-term pollution on the affected areas of the reef".
The Chinese-owned, 230m-long bulk coal carrier ran aground about 70 km east of Great Keppel Island shortly after 5 p.m. local time on Saturday. About two tons of fuel oil have spilled, creating a slick about 3 km long and 100 meters wide. Chemical dispersants have been used to help break it up.
The incident is under investigation by the central government and the repair of the vessel is also underway.
Associate Professor Peter Harrison, the director of Marine Studies at Southern Cross University, said coral spawning could be affected later this year.
Several tons of fuel oil leaked from a coal carrier when it ran aground inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park on Saturday, and chemicals were used to disperse the resulting slick.
Harrison noted oil can have dire effects on coral ecosystems and chemicals used to break up slicks are also toxic to corals.
"And in some cases the combination of oil and dispersant have increased synergistic effects," said Harrison, who is also the director of the university's Coral Reef Research Center.
"This highlights the importance of trapping the oil in booms and physically removing any spilled oil, rather than relying on dispersants."
He said that if any oil became embedded in the coral reef and sand it would have long-lasting effects.
It would be spread around tides and wave action, creating " chronic long-term pollution on the affected areas of the reef".
The Chinese-owned, 230m-long bulk coal carrier ran aground about 70 km east of Great Keppel Island shortly after 5 p.m. local time on Saturday. About two tons of fuel oil have spilled, creating a slick about 3 km long and 100 meters wide. Chemical dispersants have been used to help break it up.
The incident is under investigation by the central government and the repair of the vessel is also underway.
