The Oil Spill from the Sanchi and Environmental Issues in the Region

The oil leaked from the sunken Sanchi ship off the eastern coast of China has tripled in size after a week. According to a statement from the National Oceanic Administration of China reported by AFP on Monday, January 22, 2018, the area of the oil slicks resulting from the sinking of the Sanchi has increased from 101 square kilometers last Wednesday to 332 square kilometers. The Sanchi tanker, carrying 111,000 tons of light crude oil from Iran to South Korea, sank after colliding with a Chinese ship last Sunday in Chinese waters, resulting in the loss of all 32 crew members. The National Oceanic Administration of China has announced that three of its coast guard ships were dispatched to the incident site on Sunday evening to assess the oil leak. In this regard, the Associated Press reported that the type of oil carried by the Sanchi is such that the resulting oil slick is different from typical oil spills and is highly toxic to marine life, making it much more difficult to separate from water. The consequences of the Sanchi sinking have impacted the seafood markets in Japan, China, and South Korea. The Guardian reported on Friday that scientists have warned seafood consumers in these three countries to refrain from eating seafood products until regional governments announce the results of their assessments regarding the effects of toxins from the oil spill. Last week, while the area of the oil slicks was about 100 square kilometers, marine experts stated that these slicks are only a small part of the disaster and that millions of fish were likely contaminated during this incident. Both China and Japan have been criticized by some experts for their slow response in assessing the environmental impacts of this incident. Richard Steiner, a marine scientist, who called on Beijing and Tokyo two days after the incident to examine its marine consequences, told The Guardian that he had urged both countries to refrain from fishing in the area until they were assured of the safety of seafood products. The National Oceanography Center in the UK has predicted that the oil slicks will reach Japan within a month, and some reports indicate that these slicks may reach the Korean islands as well. Oceanographers have advised seafood consumers to exercise caution until the oil leak is stopped.