Crackdown ensures tar-free beaches in Oman

Muscat: Beachgoers in Muscat can now take a bare foot stroll without worrying about tar sticking to their feet as authorities have tightened noose around those who illegally release oil in the waters that causes tar on beaches.

"Our recent study has shown that tar pellet pollutants produced by some crossing vessels through illegal discharge of balance water into the sea has been very low compared to the previous study," Engineer Sulaiman Bin Nasser Al Akhzami, Director of the Pollution Combating Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, told Gulf News.

He also added that there were no suspicious radioactive pollutants along the Omani coast.

Penalties and teamwork

The marine engineer further said: "In an attempt to protect Oman's marine environment against deterioration, the ministry has developed a National Action Plan for the protection of coastal areas."

Al Akhzami said stricter regulations, hefty penalties and excellent surveillance has made ships wary of illegal discharge. "There's air surveillance along with a strong vigil kept all along the coast," he said.

Cooperation within the Regional Organisation for Protection of Marine Environment (Ropme) has also helped. The six Gulf Cooperation Council member states, Iran and Iraq are members of the regional organisation and coordinate monitoring of the waters in the region, which have been accorded special area status by the International Marine Organisation.

Al Akhzami said tar levels were almost zero during a study carried out last year but large tar balls could still be found at Musandam and near Fujairah in the UAE.

The ministry has established over 13 stations along Oman's coast as part of the Marine Environment Pollutants Detection Programme. "There are plans for future expansion to cover all coastal areas that are either heavily populated or located next to large-scale developments.

"These steps aim at preserving the safety and integrity of Oman's marine environment by measuring the concentration levels of heavy metals, organic pollutants and radioactive sediments in the collected samples," he said.

Under Ropme coordination Oman has set up receiving facilities at different places. Fujairah used to be the only place where contaminated sea water could be treated. "These facilities will treat oil contaminated water," he said.

The receiving facilities serve ports in Salalah, Sohar, Mina Sultan Qaboos, Mina Al Fahal, Qalhat (Sur), and Duqm. "Waste is collected when ships are berthed and sent to treatment facilities," he said.

Al Akhzami said under Marpol (International Convention for Prevention of Marine Pollution) discharge of wastes into sea is strictly limited, especially in the Special Area of the Arabian Sea coasts.

"We have a long 1,600km of coastline and coastal beauty of Oman is a major attraction for promoting tourism ... we are determined to keep any tar off our beaches," said Al Akhzami.

Oman: Tackling oil spill

Level 0: An oil spill with insignificant potential impact requiring no action.

Level 1: An oil spill less than 100 tonnes dealt with using local resources.

Level 2: An oil spill that can't be contained using the Petroleum Development of Oman and needs the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan assistance. Oil spilled would be in a range 100 to 500 tonnes.

Level 3: An oil spill requiring the immediate assistance of out-of-country resources such as the Regional Clean Sea Organisation and the Oil Spill Response Limited.

Have you ever been dolphin sighting in Oman? Do you think the country's marine life should be better protected? How can the world help?