Dead fish and ‘residual Wakashio oil’ wash ashore

Beachgoers of Pointe d’Esny, a coastal village in the South East made popular after the MV Wakashio wreck, have reportedly noticed lots of dead fish washing ashore.

Tony Apollon, spokesperson for the Southeast Region Boating Committee, said traces of oil, “probably residual oil from the Wakashio”, were also seen on the beach.

Defi Media reported residents immediately contacted Blue Bay Police Station, the National Coast Guard and the Ministry of Fisheries. Water samples have reportedly been collected and sent for analysis. 

The beach had supposedly been fully cleaned by the Greek company, Polyeco, last January. 

Pictures posted on the Facebook of environmental NGO, Eco Sud, show black traces of oil and dead fish.

“What we feared is actually happening,” protested Virginie Orange, president of the Blue-Bay boaters association. “We are still in the dark … with the third phase of reopening, we were supposed to resume work. Now, if there are traces of oil…”  

She said the boaters association is still awaiting an official report on the state of the sea and the lagoons after the wreck in July 2020.