Statement to tripartite forum on behalf of: The ESG, AGADEN AND GONHS

Environmental groups from around the Bay: GONHS, Agaden and the ESG, would like to send a public message to the Gibraltar, Spanish and UK governments who form part of the Tripartite Forum and are currently engaged in discussions.

Last October, teams of technical staff representing the Tripartite Forum met at No.6 to begin preparations for the ministerial meetings about to take place in Gibraltar.

Three copies of a dossier containing information on critical regional issues on the environment were handed in to No6 by the aforementioned environmental groups to ensure these issues were highlighted before the technical forum. It is sincerely hoped that the contents of the dossier have formed part of the current agenda planned for the Ministerial meetings.

Among the issues highlighted are:

• Epidemiological Studies (started in Gibraltar but not in Spain)
• Bunkering
• Bay Industrial Activity
• Management of the Bay Waters
• Recycling
• Biosphere Reserve
• Unprotected Areas

We look forward to hearing about the practical measures being considered by the Forum to address these very serious issues.

The following is a press statement prepared by Greenpeace and released at yesterday’s press conference. The ESG has included its own statement (see below)

To a certain extent, the disagreements between Spain, the UK and Gibraltar complicate matters when it comes to finding ways to mitigate the dire environmental situation affecting the Bay of Gibraltar and its surrounding hinterland. We urge that the quest to find solutions to these environmental problems become a focal issue when the Governments of the United Kingdom, Spain and Gibraltar next meet under the Tripartite Forum.

Environmental groups from Spain and Gibraltar have joined forces to urge the Tripartite Forum to resolve the health and environmental crisis affecting our region. Agaden, the ESG, Verdemar and Greenpeace have presented a document entitled: “Environmental and Health Crisis in the Bay of Gibraltar/Algeciras”, wherein they highlight the gravity of the health and environmental situation that affects the Campo de Gibraltar, and point out that one of the factors that is causing this crisis is the disagreements between the Governments of Gibraltar and Spain.

The Environmental Groups claim that the health of the citizens of our region, and the environment are the ones who pay the consequences after decades of neglect and lack of co-operation between Gibraltar and Spain, and urge the Tripartite Forum to reach tangible agreements at their next meeting which will begin to resolve this critical situation.

It is essential to reduce and regulate the industrial emissions and port activities in the region, and for this to happen, it is necessary that agreements are reached and a system of coordination and co-operation is put in place between Spain and Gibraltar, that prevent accidents from occurring, and will minimise their impact, should they happen.

ESG say:
“The ESG has campaigned for a number of years for greater co-operation between Gibraltar and Spain to monitor and regulate heavy industry and maritime activity. The ESG has worked hard to form cross border groups to see such collaboration take shape, without which, it is even easier for big business to exploit and pollute, with impunity. Evidence is clear from the poorly regulated Oil Refinery and petrochemical complex, which has doubled in size over the last 15 years and has contravened all health and safety and environmental laws. This has resulted in a highly poisoned Bay environment and created a public health crisis.
After many public protests and an ever increasing number of health and mortality studies in the area as well as successful lobbying by environmental and social NGO’s are we beginning to see enforcement of environmental regulations on the industries leading to slow improvements. The ESG is also worried about the potential risk from the ever increasing maritime activity made up of: cruise liners/tankers/container ships, ferries/ leisure craft, bunkering ships, etc. The situation has become dangerous and needs addressing at a cross border level supported by the Tripartite Forum”, stated Henry Pinna, spokesperson for the ESG.”

CEPSA, ACERINOX, and Interquisa, annually emit thousands of toxic substances into the air and into the waters of the Bay, which, added to the lack of treatment of sewage waters, from most of the surrounding coastal towns, creates an adverse health impact on its inhabitants.

The Spanish groups demand that the Spanish authorities carry out an independent epidemiological study, something that Gibraltar has already initiated, although the ideal thing would be to do a joint study involving all the inhabitants of our region.

More than 100,000 vessels pass annually through the Strait of Gibraltar, many of which berth in the ports of the bay to refuel, which causes spillages of fuel into the sea. Collision and accidents also occur which result in spillages of fuel. The groups demand that the anchorage “C” in Algeciras be eliminated as it is located in a protected area, and that the floating barges should not be used due to the great risk they pose to the environment.”

The ESG ends by saying that the group was invited to support the prepared document and only agreed to do so after extensive changes had been made to take into account the Gibraltar position. The ESG adds that it did not write any of this paper but was asked to support it which it broadly does.

It is fundamental that environmental groups work together to also understand the complexities within each jurisdiction and do not inflame an already difficult situation. The ESG will continue to strive towards seeing the setting up of a bay management system that will bring benefits to the citizens and living environment and will be done in such a way to ensure that territorial rights and sensibilities are respected.

“The EIA report referred to by GBC this week on global carbon consumption figures suggests that Gibraltar leads the world in having the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption and flaring of fossil fuels. This is misleading in that the explanation is likely to be linked with the vast amount of fuel sold locally for export for Spanish cars and of course, our bunkering service for international shipping.

Our small population size then takes care of apportioning this high “energy” consumption, by way of handling, to a per capita level of 160 metric tons, far outreaching any other country in the world. Including the amount of fuel sold to non-native residents in these calculations would also explain the distorted carbon dioxide emissions per capita in Luxembourg. Like in Gibraltar fuel is less expensive than in the neighbouring countries which explains why Luxembourg has 26,3 per capita while the average German, Belgian or Frenchman “only” produces 10.4,14.2, 6.6 per capita carbon dioxide metric tons per year.

While Gibraltar may not be emitting such high carbon dioxide levels locally, it carries a responsibility for the impact this will have elsewhere and on climate change. We must also realise that fuel economy is finite with cheap oil in the decline making this an unsustainable industry. The ESG believes Gibraltar should be developing alternative and sustainable economies which will also help slow down the worst impacts from global warming- new statements issued only this week by Climate Change scientists in Copenhagen reiterate the need for urgent and collective action on our carbon emissions- we appear to be heading headlong in the other direction with no cohesive plan for change.”

The ESG is extremely concerned about the ever increasing cycle of accidents at sea. While the oil spill in this latest incident, originating from the Spanish side, was again not a massive one, the damage is felt and exposes a continuation of inadequate shipping controls in the Bay.

The rate at which we are witnessing accidents demands that an urgent plan is imposed on the Bay for controlling all shipping activity. This week we saw a report on bunkering levels from different European ports- another important statistic to publish would be the rate of accidents at each of these ports.

Port officials and politicians often state that standards followed are of the highest, that a ceiling does not need to be placed on shipping or port activity because if things are done right, then accidents could even be eliminated.

The reality, however, is that due to the disputed nature of the jurisdiction within the Bay, current shipping controls are clearly inadequate to avoid accidents. The Bay environment deserves protection and preservation and requires full application of all necessary environmental laws and controls. This important factor, often overlooked in the world of commerce, should itself act as a ceiling on the amount of maritime activity safely sustainable in a small area like the Bay.

The frequency of accidents will surely be ringing alarm bells in Gibraltar and Spain as much with politicians as with the public at large- meanwhile, oil companies earning large profits from these businesses sit back and watch their investment grow while our beautiful environment and homeland becomes ever more threatened.

Environmental NGO’s: ESG, GONHS and AGADEN have jointly prepared a dossier which has been submitted to No.6, Convent Place today to be handed to the three separate technical teams meeting under the banner of the Tripartite Forum.

The groups have long been campaigning for action to be taken at a cross-border level on various environmental issues. We believe the prospect for cooperation within the Forum represents a very important opportunity for progress on a number of critical environmental issues.

The NGO’s have considered it important to submit this dossier well ahead of the full ministerial meeting next spring/summer so that the key environmental concerns held by the groups can be given proper consideration. The topics prioritised are:

Epidemiological Studies;
Bunkering;
Bay Industrial Activity;
Management of Bay Waters;
Recycling;
Biosphere Reserve;
Unprotected Areas

The NGO’s further hope to be able to present a formal memorandum for the attention of the ministers prior to the high level meeting next year.

After close to 2 weeks since a major storm hit Gibraltar resulting in infrastructural damage and a vessel writing itself off against our cliffs, the ESG wishes to raise several important points for wider consideration. Firstly, and obviously, once again, congratulations have to be given to everyone who carried out their duties in such unbelievable conditions. One thing is to respond to an emergency in a calm environment, but as everyone knows the conditions up Europa Point and indeed in other worst affected areas like the Port and promenade by Westview Park were dangerous and frankly, hitherto unknown.

As we weigh up the longer term impacts from the weekend, the ESG wishes to advise that it has been busy and pleased to have been directly engaged by Port officials in the aftermath of the disaster (see photographs). The ESG can also advise that the handling of the oil contamination and the salvage operation are, in its view, in the best possible hands. Many questions remain however, over the engineering troubles of el Fedra and whether there are any other vessels moored long-term off the eastside in a similar state?

Background:
The group had coincidentally met with the Minister of the Port, the new Captain, Environmental Agency and Port officials, a mere three days before Fedra and the storm hit Gibraltar. On the agenda were the main areas the group has been campaigning on for some years now, including:

• Fumes from bunkering and available technology- better information for community

• Eastside Vessels (unregulated and uncontrolled)

• Heightened risk of accidents at sea, cross port coordination (New Flame most significant at that time)

• Implementation of previous accident report recommendations produced by the Maritime Administration

The ESG left that meeting with expectations that Govt was now preparing to tackle all of the above issues; it was hoped, as a matter of priority, with the impetus of a newly appointed and experienced Captain of the Port, Peter Hall, raising expectations of achieving desired results.
The ink had not dried on a letter to the Minister of the Port thanking him for the frank and positive meeting when the storm and FEDRA happened.

THE FUTURE
Clearly many elements at play but the overriding issue for the ESG is that while we do not have adequate shipping controls in the Bay, be it in Gibraltar, or at cross border level, FEDRA is yet another example of the reality of the risks we face from the current situation.

The ESG urges Government to make public its intentions to address this situation and give a timeline on when significant improvements like a VTS system and eastside regulations among others, will be in place. Cross border port controls are clearly well overdue and must be prioritised at all political mtgs with the Spanish and British governments, and at the forthcoming Tripartite talks. A major collision or sinking of a fully laden fuel tanker with several thousand tonnes of crude oil, or any other hazardous cargo, has to be avoided. Effects on resident’s health and quality of life, tourism, fishing, restaurants, leisure craft and recreational areas would be devastating and recovery of the area would take years.

We can all down play the recent accident and be relieved that the Bay has been spared once again. However, even a moderate maritime accident has implications both for the environment and for the community.

South district residents were already breathing fumes off the moderately small spill from El Fedra, fumes which quickly vaporise in the heat and are very unpleasant and potentially harmful to inhale over a long period of time. Our drinking water supplies were affected by this oil spill; many of our recreational areas are sealed off for an indeterminate time. While no major fauna and flora may have been affected, dead birds have been seen and we know where there’s one, there could be more. Shorelines have been stained and marine life will have been affected, while difficult to quantify. Another important point to mention is that oil spill recovery in these past few weeks has been hampered by one glaring fact- the amount of rubbish/flotsam in the sea- something the ESG has been focusing on for some years under the CUTW banner. While storms produce a lot more flotsam the operators were informed by the ESG of the year round problems affecting the Mediterranean Sea from land borne and marine based waste material.

If we begin to consider the full impacts of a major oil spill surely this should drive the matter to the very top of any political and government agenda.

The ESG has recently released its latest newsletter to its members -a comprehensive document which provides an update on many of the groups’ core issues. Among these are: the Govt response to an Epidemiological Study, publication of a report on Climate Change also by Govt, and our call for wider public consultation; and the welcoming, finally, of recycling bins and bicycle racks on the streets of Gibraltar.

A reminder to everyone about the clean up weekend is also included, with the dates this year being the 20th and 21st September. A mention is also made of the two clean ups already done in 2008 at Victoria stadium and Little Bay. It is important to note that since the very first clean up in 2005, major improvements have been seen in specific areas. (Mediterranean Steps and Europa Advance Road are some examples):-
However, littering and fly tipping is a constant problem, with enforcement and policing yet to be stepped up and applied in any meaningful manner.

A reminder is included of the ITWMC campaign launched in 2007 on traffic issues which this year falls on the 16th to 22nd September. NO2PB, or No to Plastic Bags, is mentioned as is an anti-litter poster campaign run via the schools and during the summer months called “Use the Bins”!
Bunkering fumes, maritime activity (and accidents) and cross border port controls also feature with an update on the CEPSA refinery campaign.

Summer brings increased demand on power as air conditioning units are on full blast to combat high temperatures. Pollution from power stations all located near residential areas, increase too with, at times, intolerable air quality- news of the new monitoring unit set up at Witham’s Road and now online is also included (www.gibraltarairquality.gi).

There are links in the newsletter to useful resources such as a Greenpeace report on polluted hotspots in Spain which includes a section on our Bay. Another is to Denny Larson’s (Bucket Brigade) technical assessment of the refinery; both available on the ESG website: esg-gib.net.

Finally a reference is made to the possible loss of Pinar Del Rey and calls for support for any future protests.

The ESG newsletter has prompted many of its members to quickly renew their memberships with comments like:” Thank You! Keep up the Good Work! Keep on educating!” &, “Grateful for your hard work and commitment, keep it up!” Another stated; “Slowly but surely one can see progress on many fronts-“ while referring to the recycling bins, bicycle racks and epidemiological studies as signs of such progress- this member also finished by congratulating the ESG on these achievements. The group is spurred on by such responses.

Some members have also asked the ESG to step up its campaign on the airport expansion, local development, sea water quality, and seagulls. Coastal engineering and land reclamation projects (esp. eastside), are also a concern. This feedback is highly valued and will be reviewed as we head into autumn

We hope to recruit new members and will persist in our campaigns to see much needed environmental changes in Gibraltar.

Please go to www.esg-gib.net for a look at the 2008 newsletter and a membership form.

The ESG read the report by the Gibraltar Maritime Administration on the Samothraki accident with keen interest and strongly welcomes the recommendations contained in the document.

The Gibraltar Port Authority is recommended to:

1. Consider a port control policy aimed at providing a navigational assistance service.

2. Consider establishing a Southerly limit to the Eastern anchorage

3. Consider requiring all vessels anchoring within 3 miles of Gibraltar on the Eastern side to report to GPA with anchor position and basic ship information

4. Consider establishing an exclusion zone in the vicinity of Europa Point, up to 1 n.mile from the shore.

5. Consider requiring off-port limits transfers to be completed further offshore, and to the South East of Europa Point

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The group has long campaigned for similar measures to be put in place to protect the marine environment and address the risk potential from an increasingly congested Bay and Straits of Gibraltar. It has called for tighter controls and best available technology to be introduced to manage the 24hr bunkering service provided by the Gibraltar Port which also claims to be the busiest bunkering port in the Mediterranean.

To learn that we do not have navigational equipment to assist in safe shipping movement in the Bay is of deep concern as is the fact that eastside anchoring is completely out of Gibraltar’s control. The lack of a port control policy is also surprising given that the Minister of the Port, Joe Holliday, has often stated that the shipping and port standards practised in Gibraltar are among the highest in the world. This is clearly not the case.

While it is clear that ship operators are duty-bound to follow best health and safety standards, also recommended in the report, the ESG believes it is Gibraltar’s responsibility to safeguard our environment and supervise all activity within our territory.

It is hoped that the recommendations made by the Maritime Administration are acted upon quickly by Government ahead of any possible ecological disaster. The New Flame which collided with another vessel and then reefed herself off the Europa Point just a few months after the Samothraki accident indicates that such a disaster could occur at any time under the present circumstances. This must be avoided at all costs.

Another accident at sea prompts many questions of port procedures

“The ESG wishes to voice its concern about the serious collision at sea which took place between a cargo vessel and fuel tanker in the early hours of Sunday morning (12/08/07). It has frequently called for highest possible standards to be applied to all operations at sea well aware of the growing risk of accidents in a visibly congested Bay. Traffic through the Straits sees around 100,000 vessels per year adding to the risk factor. This is all taking place in an area of outstanding natural beauty rich in biodiversity and must be protected.

The group is investigating the monitoring and management standards applied by all three pertinent authorities, ie Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco. It is clear that while high standards and strict protocols are declared the norm, these are not adequate especially for night-time activity. An urgent review must be made into existing monitoring procedures to avoid further accidents of this type or worse.

With talk about additional bunkering facilities setting up in Algeciras and Morocco it is only a matter of time before a dreaded ecological disaster from a gutted fuel or chemical tanker occurs. Apart from the health and safety risks to Bay communities this could damage or even destroy marine and other wildlife and slow down tourist activity in the bay for an indeterminate time.

The ESG urges Government to take whatever steps are necessary to eliminate these risks and to work with other maritime agencies to ensure highest possible collaboration. It now awaits full details to be made public on the cause of the latest accident and the condition of the stricken vessel “New Flame” and hopes that it can be refloated and scrap metal cargo and fuel removed from the ship without further mishap”.

Air pollution in the western and southern areas of Gibraltar continues to be high and is affecting the quality of life of many people. The ESG has been contacted several times in the past few weeks over what appears to be various types of offensive fumes causing concern and discomfort to residents. Anyone walking through Harbour Views, Gib V or Morrison’s car park (NB: next to Gibraltar’s main hospital) will be aware that the air often reeks of pungent and offensive fuel smells.

Due to these reports the ESG has been contacting Government and the relevant agencies but has, so far, not had satisfactory answers. One clear stumbling block appears to be that management of our environment in Gibraltar is fragmented and could explain why little executive action has been taken to date.

On the one hand, the Port authority has competence for addressing port issues but does not have the expertise or competence in matters relating to air quality or impacts from air pollution. On the other, the Environmental Agency has the contract to run air monitoring in Gibraltar but has no authority over port activities. This presents a dilemma in managing the environmental impacts emanating from a port which has been claimed to host the busiest bunkering service in the Mediterranean.

The ESG urges Government to review this situation and allocate greater and independent powers to the Environmental Agency to enforce environmental legislation and best practice ( as per the Charter) throughout Gibraltar; in this instance, for vapour recovery systems to be used in all fuel handling operations.

Gibraltar is too small – and public health too important – to have split responsibilities in these critical areas and it is not appropriate to expect technical decisions or assessments to be made by elected Ministers.

A review in jurisdiction should not rule out urgent and necessary action by Government to eliminate air pollution originating from bunkering and marine traffic. Meanwhile the group awaits a response from Government as to the actions it will take to mitigate the presence of these nauseating and potentially harmful fumes.