Seabird Death Chemical to be banned

Wildlife charities have welcomed the International Maritime Organisation's swift action to ban ships across the world from discharging all forms of high-viscosity polyisobutylene (PIB) into the sea during tank cleaning operations. PIB was the chemical responsible for the deaths of over 4,000 seabirds on the coast of southwest England earlier this year, the largest marine pollution incident of its kind in the region.

Alec Taylor, Marine Policy Officer for the RSPB, said: "We are delighted with the action taken by the IMO. The global trade in PIB products is increasing and with it the risks to our precious marine environment. The global ban on the deliberate discharge of high-viscosity PIBs into our seas is a real step forward and one that we hope will end this particular pollution threat to seabirds and other marine life".

Between February and April this year over 4,000 seabirds of at least 18 species, mainly Common Guillemots, Uria aalge, were washed up on beaches from Cornwall to Dorset in two separate incidents. The majority were dead but some were alive and taken for treatment by the RSPCA at their West Hatch Centre in Somerset. The subsequent Maritime and Coastguard Agency investigation revealed that the birds had been smothered with high-viscosity PIB. The same substance was also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of seabirds off the Dutch coast in March 2010.

Peter Burgess, Devon Wildlife Trust's Conservation Advocacy Manager, said: "This is an important decision for wildlife. It's pleasing to see how quickly the IMO has acted and heartening to hear that local people's concerns have helped build momentum towards achieving this. However, we do see the PIB incidents of 2013 as a wake-up call. Dead and dying seabirds washed up on some of the southwest's most popular beaches were hard to ignore. But how many unseen and unreported activities are damaging our precious marine wildlife in undersea habitats that are almost completely unprotected by law?"

Nevertheless, this is a significant development in helping to prevent the reoccurrence of such environmental disasters.

Seabird Deaths Caused by Chemicals at Sea

The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and RSPCA, have asked the International Maritime Organisation to review the classification of a hazardous chemical after two pollution incidents, resulting in more than 4,000 dead and dying seabirds being washed up along the coast of southwest England. The birds including Razorbills, Puffins, Gannets and Guillemots were coated in a sticky substance which interferes with plumage, preventing diving and feeding.

A dead Guillemot on Wembury Beach, Devon

The substance was identified as polyisobutene (PIB), a chemical used in the manufacture of lubricants, chewing gum and other products. Under certain circumstances it is legal for ships to discharge PIB into the sea when washing out their tanks.

Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts said: "Dead and dying seabirds may be the most visible victims of our mismanagement. But impacts on other parts of marine life support systems may be just as widespread and more serious. Firm controls must be implemented to minimise the risk of future disasters". 

PIB is extremely hazardous to seabirds, who dive underwater to feed and become covered in the sticky substance. This leads to immobilisation, hyperthermia, starvation and eventually death.

Just another example of how we are polluting our world and continuing to destroy wildlife in the process.