Minister Aylward demands improved oil spill response capability

The Minister of Environment, Kevin Aylward stated today: "The sinking of the Prestige off the coast of Spain should serve as a reminder of the frequent occurrence of oiled seabirds off our southeast coast. The significance of a major oil spill is being played out off the coast of Spain as people clean up their shorelines and try to save the lives of as many seabirds as possible.

"Earlier this fall, I met with the ministers of the two key federal departments responsible for ocean issues, Minister Thibault and Minister Anderson, to push again for increased resources and action to address the prevention and response to oil pollution in our waters. Estimates of seabirds dying due to oil in the sea off our southeast coast range from 60,000 to100,000 every year. This is not acceptable. I believe there are several actions that the federal government can and should take immediately to increase protection of our coasts and coastal waters from oil pollution. Increased aerial surveillance, increased fines, and accelerated introduction of the Automatic Identification System for all vessels transiting Canadian waters are all significant deterrents to vessels and crews tempted to try and discharge oily waste into the sea off our coasts. Insist that all vessels stay farther offshore as they pass our coasts - one of the first responses to the recent tanker spill off the coast of Spain was to tow the vessel farther offshore - let�s have them there in the first place."

Minister Aylward is not alone in asking for action. The final report from the inter-governmental and industry project, Prevention of Oiled Wildlife, made several recommendations to increase the extent and effectiveness of spill prevention, especially prevention of ship sourced oil pollution, mainly coming from illegal discharges. This report was provided to both the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of Environment. Minister Thibault acknowledged the need to address this continuing problem off the province�s south coast.

Minister Aylward recently met with Stan Tobin, president of the Regional Advisory Council on Oil Spill Response, a council that brings the concerns of the public about oil pollution to the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). The regional advisory council has been in place for a number of years. Their main focus has been Placentia Bay and the southeastern coast of the province. They have consistently made recommendations to CCG to increase prevention of spills and discharges, including increased surveillance and higher fines.

"I have requested a detailed accounting of the resources available in the Coast Guard in this province to respond to an oil spill - I have not had an answer. I continue to hear concerns from the Prevention of Oiled Wildlife group, from the World Wildlife Fund, from Coast Guard�s own regional advisory council. We need this addressed now, stated Minister Aylward. "We understand that as a result of demands by the regional advisory council, the Canadian Coast Guard has taken the initial steps to begin a risk analysis for the Placentia Bay area. It is past time for this assessment. I support this risk analysis and have requested active participation by the province in determining the scope of the risk analysis. It is time to get accurate answers as to how to best prevent and prepare for spills off our coast."

Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron Director of Communications, (709) 729-2575.

2002 11 18                                       4:15 p.m.