Oil also reaches Aruba, Curaçao

May 30, 2017

WILLEMSTAD–After oil residue was discovered in Bonaire last week, authorities also found some in Aruba and Curaçao on Sunday.

Due to this discovery additional inspections will be carried out at the beaches, according to the Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao (STCC). The organization already checked out Klein (small) Curaçao and organised a clean-up today, Tuesday.

According to STCC, the floating particles were spotted at 83 individual places, ranging from small ones less than 1 centimetre to some that are as big as an adult hand.

The plaques were found at Turtle Beach, a part of Klein Curaçao where people generally do not go. According to the STCC, the residue was hardened.

The oil clung onto the sand, which makes it easy for the organisation to clean it. They also indicated having to see what they will do with this stained sand afterwards.

Additional inspections were scheduled at St. Joris, Ascención and from Shete Boka to Watamula.

STCC could not say if more residue will reach the island and what will happen if turtles are affected. They have in any case organised clean-ups in the areas where they nest.

The Maritime Authority of Curaçao (MAC) reported in a press release that there was some pollution in Klein Curaçao.

“It is heavy oil that has been floating in the ocean for a few weeks now, so the oil has disintegrated into smaller particles, which float right below the surface. The composition of the oil residues found in Klein Curaçao will be investigated by nature Carmabi,” stated the release.

It is assumed that the residue is the same as heavy oil that also reached the coast of Venezuela and likely came from Petrotin in Trinidad and Tobago. MAC asked the general public, hotels, dive schools etc. to be alert for the possibility of oil residue in the sea.