Florida's coral reef decline linked to sewage, coastal runoff

http://www.cdnn.info/news/eco/e060416.html

MIAMI, Florida (16 April 2006) -- Study backs environmentalists' suspicions that chemicals from sewer pipes and coastal runoff may be harming coral reefs. Prozac, estrogen fertilizer, pesticides, anti-bacterial soap and countless other chemicals pour into the ocean off southeast Florida, shot through sewer pipes and washed off lawns, golf courses, roads and farms. Environmentalists have long suspected this chemical brew of playing a role in the decline of coral reefs. Now a study by academic and government scientists has tentatively linked sewage pipes and coastal runoff to coral damage off southeast Florida. The study found that corals near sewage pipes and inlets -- where urban and agricultural runoff flows into the ocean -- showed harmful changes in levels of molecules associated with the ability to heal wounds. When scientists cut holes in corals, they found the ones near sewage pipes and inlets took longer to heal. At samples tested next to the Hollywood sewer pipe, wounds expanded rather than healed.

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Views wanted on oil transfer plan: "A public consultation has been launched to examine controversial proposals to transfer large quantities of oil between ships in the Firth of Forth.

Forth Ports is in favour of the plan to transfer Russian oil to tankers, four miles off the Fife coast, at rates of up to 3,000 tonnes per hour.

But Fife Council believes it could pose a major hazard.

UK Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the consultation would assess the implications for nature conservation.

Mr Darling pointed out that such transfers already take place at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Sullom Voe in Shetland and at the Nigg oil terminal in the Cromarty Firth.

They are lawful and do not need approval by the transport secretary.


It's about consulting on a plan to deal with an oil spill, not about questioning whether this proposal should go ahead in the first place
Mark Ruskell
Scottish Greens

However, the harbour authority must get his go-ahead for its oil spill contingency plans.

It is understood Mr Darling believes the consultation has been inadequate so far and will ask for views on the contingency plans.

Sunderland company Melbourne Marine Services (MMS) wants to carry out the transfers in the Forth about four miles off Methil.

The oil would be switched to vessels bound for China or eastern Europe.

Oil transfer

Fife Council has described the proposal as one of the most serious threats ever faced by the area.

Green Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell branded the consultation a smokescreen, claiming the 'ludicrous' oil transfer plan would threaten the economy and environment around the Forth.

He said: 'This consultation assumes that ship-to-ship oil transfer will go ahead in the Firth of Forth. It's about consulting on a plan to deal with an oil spill, not about questioning whether this proposal should go ahead in the first place.

'European law dictates that we must put the protection of the sensitiv"

New Posting - for testing purposes