Some corals have lived for centuries at the fringes of Mauritius. Now smothered for days in heavy fuel oil spilled from a wrecked Japanese tanker nearby, parts of those reefs may be in trouble.

The full impact of the toxic spill is still unfolding, scientists say. As the Indian Ocean island’s residents scramble to mop up the oil slicks and clumps, they are seeing dead eels and fish floating in the water, as fuel-soaked seabirds limp onto shore.

Satellite images also show the 1,000 tonnes of spilled oil spreading northward along the coastline from the spill site in the turquoise waters of Blue Bay Marine Park.

The damage, scientists say, could impact Mauritius and its tourism-dependent economy for decades.

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“This oil spill occurred in one of, if not the most, sensitive areas in Mauritius,” oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo told Reuters by telephone from the island, where he was surveying the disaster. “We are talking of decades to recover from this damage, and some of it may never recover.”

The wildlife at risk include the seagrasses blanketing sand in the shallow waters, clownfish darting around coral reefs, mangrove trees corralling the coastline with their tangled root systems, and the critically endangered Pink Pigeon, endemic to the island.

Giant tortoises slow-walk through a nature reserve on the nearby islet, Ile-aux-Aigrettes, where there is also a scientific research station. Altogether, Blue Bay Marine park counts 38 types of coral and 78 species of fish.

The spill brings “a massive poisonous shock to the system,” said Adam Moolna, an environmental scientist from Mauritius who lectures at Keele University in Britain. “This oil will have cascading effects across the webs of life.”

Still uncontained

The spill came from the Japanese-owned MV Wakashio, which rammed into a reef in the marine park on July 25. It is still unclear why the ship was sailing so closely to the coast. About a week later, oil began gushing from the cracked vessel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-environmental-emergency-mauritius-oil-spill-expands-10-times-its-original-size-320036">Also read:&nbsp;Amid environmental emergency, Mauritius oil spill expands 10 times its original size</a>

However, the flow had been stopped, authorities say, after they pumped the remaining oil from the ship.

On Thursday, the ship’s owner Nagashiki Shipping said it would face up to its liability and assess compensation for the disaster.

Already, about 15 km of coastline have been affected by the spill, said Mauritius Marine Conservation Society President Jacqueline Sauzier.

“We don’t have the equipment or the expertise to remove the oil, and time is of the essence to limit the damage,” she told Reuters.

Local residents are wading unprotected into the toxic waters, while using human hair as well as husks from sugar cane factories to quickly soak up as much of the spill as they can.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-show-mv-wakashio-leaking-oil-off-the-coast-of-mauritius-319057">Also see:&nbsp;Satellite images show MV Wakashio leaking oil off the coast of Mauritius</a>

For both people and wildlife, the spill will have a “resonating and resounding impact for the next 10 to 20 years,” said environmental toxicologist Craig Downs, who assesses oil spills but has not studied the spill in Mauritius.

Spiraling impact

Coral reefs and fish are likely to suffer first. That’s especially rough for Mauritius, where tourism and fishing are mainstays of the economy.

Corals that survive could have weakened resistance to marine heat waves, which are hitting the area due to climate change and have already caused some coral bleaching, experts say.

“If things continue to go the way they are the future prospects for coral reefs look very, very bleak indeed,” said Alex Rogers, a visiting professor at Oxford University and science director of REV Ocean, a not-for-profit company.

Conservationists are also anxious about oil washing into mangrove forests, where roots serve as nurseries for fish.

Oil also could sink into sediments around mangroves, where it could smother molluscs, crabs and fish larvae, said Callum Roberts, a professor of marine conservation at the University of Exeter in Britain.

“It’s very hard to remove once it’s sunk into the sediment,” Roberts said. “Trees can become sick and die.”

Birds nesting in the mangroves, or migrating via nearby mudflats, are also vulnerable. Ingesting oil can make it hard for birds to fight disease or even to fly, said environmental toxicologist Christopher Goodchild at Oklahoma State University.

Research has shown that “just a small amount of oil being transferred to a bird’s egg — as small as a droplet of blood — can actually cause a change in the bird embryo’s physiology,” he said.

Beds of seagrass, which like mangroves store vast quantities of climate-warming carbon dioxide, play a vital role in protecting coasts from waves.

On land, some scientists warn that washed up oil deposits could harden and lead to lasting change.

“In the long term, we could see an asphalt-like coast as the oil dissipates and degrades, as the oil puddles,” said Ralph Portier, an environmental scientist at Louisiana State University who studied the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s a real tragedy,” Portier said.

Some corals have lived for centuries at the fringes of Mauritius. Now smothered for days in heavy fuel oil spilled from a wrecked Japanese tanker nearby, parts of those reefs may be in trouble.

Some corals have lived for centuries at the fringes of Mauritius. Now smothered for days in heavy fuel oil spilled from a wrecked Japanese tanker nearby, parts of those reefs may be in trouble. The full impact of the toxic spill is still unfolding, scientists say. As the Indian Ocean island’s residents scramble to mop up the oil slicks and clumps, they are seeing dead eels and fish floating in the water, as fuel-soaked seabirds limp onto shore. Satellite images also show the 1,000 tonnes of spilled oil spreading northward along the coastline from the spill site in the turquoise waters of Blue Bay Marine Park. The damage, scientists say, could impact Mauritius and its tourism-dependent economy for decades. × “This oil spill occurred in one of, if not the most, sensitive areas in Mauritius,” oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo told Reuters by telephone from the island, where he was surveying the disaster. “We are talking of decades to recover from this damage, and some of it may never recover.” The wildlife at risk include the seagrasses blanketing sand in the shallow waters, clownfish darting around coral reefs, mangrove trees corralling the coastline with their tangled root systems, and the critically endangered Pink Pigeon, endemic to the island. Giant tortoises slow-walk through a nature reserve on the nearby islet, Ile-aux-Aigrettes, where there is also a scientific research station. Altogether, Blue Bay Marine park counts 38 types of coral and 78 species of fish. The spill brings “a massive poisonous shock to the system,” said Adam Moolna, an environmental scientist from Mauritius who lectures at Keele University in Britain. “This oil will have cascading effects across the webs of life.” Still uncontained The spill came from the Japanese-owned MV Wakashio, which rammed into a reef in the marine park on July 25. It is still unclear why the ship was sailing so closely to the coast. About a week later, oil began gushing from the cracked vessel. Also read: Amid environmental emergency, Mauritius oil spill expands 10 times its original size However, the flow had been stopped, authorities say, after they pumped the remaining oil from the ship. On Thursday, the ship’s owner Nagashiki Shipping said it would face up to its liability and assess compensation for the disaster. Already, about 15 km of coastline have been affected by the spill, said Mauritius Marine Conservation Society President Jacqueline Sauzier. “We don’t have the equipment or the expertise to remove the oil, and time is of the essence to limit the damage,” she told Reuters. Local residents are wading unprotected into the toxic waters, while using human hair as well as husks from sugar cane factories to quickly soak up as much of the spill as they can. Also see: Satellite images show MV Wakashio leaking oil off the coast of Mauritius For both people and wildlife, the spill will have a “resonating and resounding impact for the next 10 to 20 years,” said environmental toxicologist Craig Downs, who assesses oil spills but has not studied the spill in Mauritius. Spiraling impact Coral reefs and fish are likely to suffer first. That’s especially rough for Mauritius, where tourism and fishing are mainstays of the economy. Corals that survive could have weakened resistance to marine heat waves, which are hitting the area due to climate change and have already caused some coral bleaching, experts say. “If things continue to go the way they are the future prospects for coral reefs look very, very bleak indeed,” said Alex Rogers, a visiting professor at Oxford University and science director of REV Ocean, a not-for-profit company. Conservationists are also anxious about oil washing into mangrove forests, where roots serve as nurseries for fish. Oil also could sink into sediments around mangroves, where it could smother molluscs, crabs and fish larvae, said Callum Roberts, a professor of marine conservation at the University of Exeter in Britain. “It’s very hard to remove once it’s sunk into the sediment,” Roberts said. “Trees can become sick and die.” Birds nesting in the mangroves, or migrating via nearby mudflats, are also vulnerable. Ingesting oil can make it hard for birds to fight disease or even to fly, said environmental toxicologist Christopher Goodchild at Oklahoma State University. Research has shown that “just a small amount of oil being transferred to a bird’s egg — as small as a droplet of blood — can actually cause a change in the bird embryo’s physiology,” he said. Beds of seagrass, which like mangroves store vast quantities of climate-warming carbon dioxide, play a vital role in protecting coasts from waves. On land, some scientists warn that washed up oil deposits could harden and lead to lasting change. “In the long term, we could see an asphalt-like coast as the oil dissipates and degrades, as the oil puddles,” said Ralph Portier, an environmental scientist at Louisiana State University who studied the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “It’s a real tragedy,” Portier said.

'Massive poisonous shock': Scientists fear lasting impact from Mauritius oil spill

An ecological catastrophe is unfolding in Mauritius and at the centre of it is a Japanese bulk carrier which has spilt more than a 1,000 tonnes of oil into the waters of the&nbsp;island nation.

Mauritius avoided a second catastrophic oil spill Wednesday after salvage crews pumped the remaining fuel from the tanks of a cargo ship that ran aground off its coast.

On Tuesday, volunteers fished out scores of dead eels dripping in oil in a bid to skim the oil off the surface in what is&nbsp;considered the most pristine beaches in the Indian Ocean. An estimated 1,000 tonnes of oil is currently in the ocean, and more expected to flow in as the ship nears breaking point.

The country had declared a “state of environmental emergency” last week after the incident. Satellite images released showed a thick oil slick appear all around the area where the ship is currently lying.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-show-mv-wakashio-leaking-oil-off-the-coast-of-mauritius-319057">Satellite images show MV Wakashio leaking oil off the coast of Mauritius</a>

The latest data analysis has revealed that the oil slick has expanded 10 times its originals size&nbsp;spreading over 11 and a half kilometers.

Volunteers and environmentalists have intensified rescue efforts. France has dispatched a naval vessel and military aircraft to&nbsp;stabilise the bulk carrier and pump 4,000 tonnes of fuel from the Indian ocean.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-deploys-teams-to-mauritius-as-oil-spill-disaster-worsens-319105">France deploys teams to Mauritius as oil spill disaster worsens</a>

The archipelago is preparing for the worst after the ship's operator, Mitsui Osk Lines confirmed that the crack in the ship's hull has widened. It now risks breaking into two, resulting in an environmental catastrophe.

He said&nbsp;"the ship is about to break and we expected. It could have broken up already last night but it's still holding. But what we've learned is that it is still been held back by only the top metal plate that covers the surface of the ship and that this is fully cracked on the sides.''

''So there are still 600 tones of heavy fuel oil inside of it. And should the ship break, we would need to be prepared to absorb all this oil,'' he added.

If sufficent and necessary measures are not taken to rectify the situation, the oil spill is bound to go out of hands.

An ecological catastrophe is unfolding in Mauritius and at the centre of it is a Japanese bulk carrier which has spilt more than a 1,000 tonnes of oil into the waters of the island nation.

An ecological catastrophe is unfolding in Mauritius and at the centre of it is a Japanese bulk carrier which has spilt more than a 1,000 tonnes of oil into the waters of the island nation. Mauritius avoided a second catastrophic oil spill Wednesday after salvage crews pumped the remaining fuel from the tanks of a cargo ship that ran aground off its coast. On Tuesday, volunteers fished out scores of dead eels dripping in oil in a bid to skim the oil off the surface in what is considered the most pristine beaches in the Indian Ocean. An estimated 1,000 tonnes of oil is currently in the ocean, and more expected to flow in as the ship nears breaking point. The country had declared a “state of environmental emergency” last week after the incident. Satellite images released showed a thick oil slick appear all around the area where the ship is currently lying. Also see: Satellite images show MV Wakashio leaking oil off the coast of Mauritius The latest data analysis has revealed that the oil slick has expanded 10 times its originals size spreading over 11 and a half kilometers. Volunteers and environmentalists have intensified rescue efforts. France has dispatched a naval vessel and military aircraft to stabilise the bulk carrier and pump 4,000 tonnes of fuel from the Indian ocean. Also read: France deploys teams to Mauritius as oil spill disaster worsens The archipelago is preparing for the worst after the ship's operator, Mitsui Osk Lines confirmed that the crack in the ship's hull has widened. It now risks breaking into two, resulting in an environmental catastrophe. He said "the ship is about to break and we expected. It could have broken up already last night but it's still holding. But what we've learned is that it is still been held back by only the top metal plate that covers the surface of the ship and that this is fully cracked on the sides.'' ''So there are still 600 tones of heavy fuel oil inside of it. And should the ship break, we would need to be prepared to absorb all this oil,'' he added. If sufficent and necessary measures are not taken to rectify the situation, the oil spill is bound to go out of hands.

Amid environmental emergency, Mauritius oil spill expands 10 times its original size

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a "state of environmental emergency" on Friday after bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio began spilling oil after running aground on a reef on the south east coast of the country.

Satellite images released on Friday&nbsp;showed a thick oil slick appear all around the area where the ship is currently lying.

<img alt="Mauritius" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d8ce4529-6967-4a7d-80c3-d9ac949e909f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/_113856529_tv062817321.jpg" />

According to media reports, MV Wakashio is owned by a Japanese company and was making its way to Brazil from China. The ship is believed to have 4,000 tonnes of fuel aboard.

<img alt="Mauritius" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aaf62ebd-fb23-4333-afdb-8f05a545b4f5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/_113856526_tv062817295.jpg" />

A satellite image shows the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio and its oil spill after it ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius, August 7, 2020. Satellite image ?2020 Maxar Technologies/via REUTERS

Mauritius, an island lying east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its pristine environment and is a popular tourist destination.

Online ship trackers showed the Panama-flagged bulk carrier had been en route from China to Brazil.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mauritius-declares-environmental-emergency-after-oil-spill-318992" hreflang="en">Mauritius declares environmental emergency after oil spill</a>

After the cracks in the hull were detected, a salvage team that had been working on the ship was evacuated, Ramano told reporters Thursday. Some 400 sea booms have been deployed in an effort to contain the spill.

Government statements this week said the ship ran aground July 25 and the National Coast Guard received no distress call.

A police inquiry has been opened into issues such as possible negligence, a government statement said.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a "state of environmental emergency" on Friday after bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio began spilling oil after running aground on a reef on the south east coast of the country.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a "state of environmental emergency" on Friday after bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio began spilling oil after running aground on a reef on the south east coast of the country. Satellite images released on Friday showed a thick oil slick appear all around the area where the ship is currently lying. According to media reports, MV Wakashio is owned by a Japanese company and was making its way to Brazil from China. The ship is believed to have 4,000 tonnes of fuel aboard. A satellite image shows the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio and its oil spill after it ran aground off the southeast coast of Mauritius, August 7, 2020. Satellite image ?2020 Maxar Technologies/via REUTERS Mauritius, an island lying east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its pristine environment and is a popular tourist destination. Online ship trackers showed the Panama-flagged bulk carrier had been en route from China to Brazil. Also read: Mauritius declares environmental emergency after oil spill After the cracks in the hull were detected, a salvage team that had been working on the ship was evacuated, Ramano told reporters Thursday. Some 400 sea booms have been deployed in an effort to contain the spill. Government statements this week said the ship ran aground July 25 and the National Coast Guard received no distress call. A police inquiry has been opened into issues such as possible negligence, a government statement said.

Satellite images show MV Wakashio leaking oil off the coast of Mauritius