Oil Pollution (Wildlife Deaths) (Hansard, 22 January 1996)

§ Mr. Norris

[holding answer 19 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 22 January 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number and species of birds and sea mammals washed up on the North Humberside coast as a result of oil pollution. 39W During the period 27 December to 4 January an approximate total of 450 birds were affected by pollution off the North Humberside coastline. Of that number some 320 birds were recovered alive and treated by the RSPCA; these included approximately 250 guillemots, 50 Razorbills, and single figure numbers of Kittiwakes, Puffins and Shelduck. Reported dead birds totalled 127 which were made up of 72 Guillemots, 38 Razorbills, 10 Puffins, 4 Fulmars, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Little Auk and 1 Red Throated Diver. During the same period 3 seals were rescued and taken into care by the RSPCA, one of which was thought to be affected by oil. The Agency's Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU) has not been able to establish the source of the pollution. The fast indication of pollution in the area was oiled birds coming ashore in Humberside. Oil samples associated with the incident and collected on behalf of MPCU have been analysed. The analyses have concluded that samples taken from the beach and from the feathers of contaminated birds are a mixture of light fuel oils which may indicate bilge discharges by ships. We do not have sufficient evidence to identify particular ships. During the period 27 December to 4 January the MPCU surveillance aircraft flew 3 patrols in the sea area off the Humberside coast. These patrols were in response to continuing reports of oiled birds coming ashore in Humberside. One of these patrols detected oil at sea some 23 miles east of Spurn Point which might have caused the damage to wildlife described here.