SIMPSON BAY:--- On Friday the 9th of May 2014 staff of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten responded with their vessel to reports of a significant oil spill in the Simpson Bay area in the vicinity of Gourmet Marche stretching towards the Simpson Bay Causeway. Once on scene the situation was assessed and the environmental impacts of the spill on the marine environment were determined. Initial assessment found that a large quantity of diesel was entered into the Simpson Bay Lagoon from an unknown source. There was no activity observed regarding oil entering the water from industrial sources or shipping sources within the Simpson Bay Lagoon. During the assessment it was found that the spill stretched for approximately one hundred yards in a west south westerly direction (for volume related to oil density see Appendix 3), which indicates a fairly large amount of oil was leaked. Contact was immediately established with the various island entities informing them of the situation. Contact was initially established with Inspector Carty of Maritime Affairs, the St. Maarten Harbour Master and the Coastguard who responded quickly to the reports. Communication and coordination between the St. Maarten Port Authority, the Nature Foundation and the Coastguard was swift and effective in responding to this spill.
The Nature Foundation will continue to conduct follow up patrols and dives to determine the impact the spills is having on Marine Flora and Fauna. The anticipation is that meteorological conditions and the soluble nature of diesel will cause the spill to dissipate eventually, however the Nature Foundation will continue to monitor the direction of the slick and notify authorities if coastal areas are under threat.
