Caribbean islands approve ban on dumping ocean waste
19 Apr, 2010, 09:53 (GMT -04:00)


WILLEMSTAD/SAN JUAN — Countries in the Caribbean region agree on the prohibition of dumping waste into the sea. This terminates all regulations that allowed offshore dumping of metal, glass, and other materials. The ban will become effective per May 2011.

The independent countries approved the new regulation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a subsidiary of the United Nations. IMO-advisor Jeff Ramos announced this last Wednesday. In his daily life, Ramos is employed with the American coastguard on Curaçao. “A quantum leap”, the officer explains. “In particular, regarding the Caribbean region with its considerable tanker traffic and busy shipping routes from and to the Panama Canal. It has a substantial impact.” Both the Antillean and American coastguard exercise supervision in the region.

The UN wants to introduce this ban to protect vulnerable areas. In that, it particularly regards areas with considerable shipping traffic and areas where the environment is already vulnerable. The stricter regulation is already applicable for the waters surrounding the Antarctic, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, North Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
To-date, ships were allowed to dump glass and metal waste within a distance of 3 miles from the coast – with the restriction that the individual waste would not be larger than 8 centimeters in diameter. As of 25 miles from the coast, one may dispose of nearly all waste in the sea – besides plastic. According to the new rules, one is now only allowed to dump food waste. The monitoring thereof is up to the individual countries. According to experts, sea life could be endangered by dumping waste into the ocean. Moreover, it could have negative consequences for the water quality and threaten small local economies – in particular those that depend on tourism.

Seventeen years ago, the UN had already declared all kinds of waste dumping in the oceans as fundamentally wrong. The regulations could not become effective until involved countries indicated they could and would allow and process ships’ waste. After a yearlong awareness campaign, the Caribbean countries now indicate they have sufficient possibilities to accept waste from ships.

Spokesperson of the Cruise Lines International Association in Florida, Lanie Fagan declared that the new regulation has no consequences for cruise ships. “The cruise industry has not dumped any permanent waste into the sea since years.”

Good stuff, glad to hear this. It should would be nice if all deliberate dumping was eliminated, that would only leave the accidental.

What about the Freewinds dumping sewage on Bonaire? There are laws against that also but officials on Bonaire still accept the sewage even though there is no sewage processing plant. Why, if there are laws against pollution, does this blatant act of pollution continue? Someone needs to be arrested! Where are the STINAPA police?

"What about the Freewinds dumping sewage on Bonaire? There are laws against that also but officials on Bonaire still accept the sewage even though there is no sewage processing plant. Why, if there are laws against pollution, does this blatant act of pollution continue? Someone needs to be arrested! Where are the STINAPA police?"

Different situation altogether. Not saying the Freewinds thing is okay, but these are two totally different topics.

Stinapa is NOT a police entity ..it is a foundation.. Stinapa has no police power... they depend on the local authorities for the enforcement ... it is very frustrating ...

It is just amazing to me (and I'm not what you would call a tree-hugger) that people somehow think that dumping waste of any kind into the ocean is OK.

But then again it also amazes me how many people come up from their first snorkel or dive experience and are just flabbergasted at what they see down there. Now some people are just greedy, heartless, and self-centered. And as long as nobody tells them they can't do something, they are going to do it if it makes their life easier or costs them less money than the alternative. But I really think that if more people were made aware that the ocean is more than just a giant salty bathtub, they would be less likely to dump their waste in it.

Just my 2psi.

e.

I learned a long time ago...Never underestimate human stupidity.

Oh, believe me, I'm on board there.

e.

What about people dumping trucks into Karpata? Getting Eddie started!!!