European tasks force heads for Ecuador
Three experts from the European Task Force dealing with accidental marine pollution are on their way to Ecuador following the nation's request for help cleaning up the oil spill threatening the pristine Galapagos region. The three specialists, from Spain, France and the United Kingdom, are specialists in operational, technical and biodiversity aspects of marine pollution. They will help the Ecuadorian authorities to define the best means of minimising the impact of the pollution and to insure the recovery of affected areas. This is the Commission's first major action under the new Community framework for cooperation in dealing with marine pollution, established last year. Any further Community action or financial help to clear up the spill will depend on the experts' assessment of the situation. According to the Ecuadorian department of the environment on 23 January, the grounded oil tanker 'Jessica' had spilled about 400 tons of oil near San Cristobal off Ecuador's coast. The 30 year old Jessica had been carrying some 600 tons of diesel oil and 300 tons of intermediate fuel oil. 'The diesel oil will evaporate quite rapidly (in a few dozen hours) depending on the conditions (temperature, wind and sea state),' report Commission experts. But the intermediate fuel is more persistent in the environment and threatens to damage rare and valuable wildlife in sensitive areas of the archipelago. Ecuador has declared a state of emergency.