Not only nature, but also tourists are victims of oil pollution on the coast of Bonaire. Oil has been washing up on the Caribbean island for several days, meaning that at least two beaches have been closed until further notice.
This concerns the places Sorobon and Lac Bay on the east of the island. “Sorobon is normally a popular place for tourists who arrive on cruise ships,” says a spokesperson for Tourism Corporation Bonaire. However, on Tuesday the beach chairs and snorkeling gear remained in storage.
Lac Bay is also currently closed by the authorities. First, the oil residues that float in the water and still wash up must be cleaned up. The oil comes from a shipwreck a thousand kilometers east off the coast of Tobago.
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The tourism office in Kralendijk emphasizes that only the east side of the island has been affected for the time being. “We hope that the problem will be resolved as quickly as possible.” However, there are videos on social media of snorkelers and divers who are said to have seen oil residues floating in the water along the west coast.
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Bonaire is very popular with water sports enthusiasts because of its colorful underwater life. The tropical fish and coral are a feast for the eyes. In 2022, more than 173,000 visitors arrived by plane on the island, which has the status of a municipality of the Netherlands.
Natural disaster
But nature also has to contend with oil pollution. “The oil is a major threat to the coral reefs and also to the seagrass and mangroves and therefore also to humans. Based on the images I have seen, I dare to call this a potential natural disaster,” says Monique van de Water, program manager of the World Wildlife Fund in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Greenpeace is also concerned. Meralney Bomba, an employee of the environmental organization on Bonaire, says: “I see large oil slicks in the sea, especially in places with vulnerable mangroves, fish and coral. This oil spill could cause major damage.”
On Bonaire, for example, a lot of work is being done to restore mangrove forests, because they protect the coast and nature against storms and sea level rise. Coral pollution is also a problem. Van de Water: “Special animal species such as sea turtles and sharks depend on the coral reefs around Bonaire. All kinds of fish grow among the coral. The sea around Bonaire is one of the oldest protected marine areas in the world.”
Watch our video about oil pollution along the Caribbean coast here:
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