Tristan da Cunha Oil Slick

Wednesday 30 March 2011

A cargo vessel recently struck one of the islands in the Tristan da Cunha group in the South Atlantic, and an oil slick is threatening the island's tourist and fishing industries and environment. Many Rathlin island residents attended the talks given last year by Brad Robson who had lived on Tristan for a year, and will no doubt be shocked and dismayed at the news.

As this report from the island's website shows, an oil slick almost immediately began to leak from the stricken ship.

The situation has since developed into what is being described as a 'disaster' for the island group. Not only does the oil spill threaten the island's fragile economy largely based on fishing and tourism, but the ship was also suspected of carrying a number of rats who are likely to cause serious long-term damage to Nightingale Island, where the ship came aground.

You can keep up to date with developments from Tristan's own official news page.