The Effects of Oil Pollution on Mangroves and Fisheries in Ecuador - Colombia

The report was presented at the Second International Symposium on Bioloy and Management of Mangroves and tropical Shallow Water Communities, held in Papua New Guinea, July-August 1980. It was prepared under the terms of a FAO Advisory Mission to Colombia and Ecuador in 1976, following the wreck of the 34 000 tonnes tanker Saint Peter. The oil caused severe acute damage to the fauna of the mangrove swamps along the coast. Due to the large tidal range considerable parts of the deposited oil on roots and trunks were washed off and four months later previously defoliated mangroves had recovered. The oil affected the local fishery in a number of wyas, and tuna avoided the affected area