Oil Polution in Africa

Oil spills are the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. This type of pollution is a major concern for the countries on the coast of Africa.

According to UNEP Regional Seas: Oil is a major pollution threat to coastal ecosystems, owing to the heavy use of the tanker route along the East African coast. On any given day there are hundreds of tankers in the region, many of them Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). With more and more people using motorized vessels rather than human or sail power for fishing and pleasure craft is increasing pressure on the environment. The high level of traffic back and forth from Africa also can expose the marine and coastal environment to oil pollution through the discharge of ballast water and oil leaks from the different water vehicles.

Not only are there issues with the cargo carriers just traveling back and forth, for shipping purposes. There is an area that stretches from Lambert's bay on the Cape West Coast all the way to East London in the Eastern Cape, that has been designated as a "Special Area". This area for years have allowed oil tankers and other large ships to clean out their cargo or to dump oily waste. Doing this, we have figured out is adding to the oil pollution and the destruction of our marine environment.

Thankfully the United Nations is trying to do what they can to help protect the coastline of Africa, especially South Africa. As of the 1st of August 2008, it will be come and offence for oil takers to drop anything in the "Special Area". Tankers engaged in trading with South Africa will be required to retain waste on board for discharge into adequate waste facilities in the Port.