At least 40 fishermen affected by Cedros oil spill

An oil spill on Tuesday has affected at least 40 Cedros fishermen but while authorities began cleanup, there is concern the spill may not have been contained.

Representing fishermen of St Marie, Bonasse Village Marlon Parmel said 25 boats in the area were affected and estimated there were 15 similarly affected in Bamboo Village.

He told Newsday fishermen had seen a slick approximately three miles long in the waters between Bonasse and Bamboo Village around midday on Tuesday, after which Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd was contacted.

Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh told Newsday while Heritage was cleaning up affected beaches, the company had not revealed the source of the spill.

"The fishermen are concerned about their pirogues and so on, if they should go out to sea and their nets could be contaminated.

"Up to now, Heritage had not released any sort of a press release or any sort of communication with the fisherfolks in the Cedros districts."

Newsday understands the Environmental Management Agency also visited the site on Tuesday to assess the situation.

A representative of Heritage told Newsday a statement on the incident was being prepared and would be forwarded to the media. The release had not been received up to press time.

Like Teelucksingh, Parmel too lamented Heritage hadnot communicated with the fishermen, especially as many could not afford to lose out on the day's catch.

"Last night now ,over 18 or 19 boat owners calling and asking me if to go in the sea or if not to go in the sea.

"Remember, now is August and they have to buy schoolbooks and thing.

"I didn't want to tell them don't go in the sea, and I don't know what Heritage doing. They didn't call we back until this morning."

He said eight of the fishermen in his area decided to go out to sea on Wednesday in the absence of advice from Heritage Petroleum. He said he met with a representative from the company around 3 pm that day to discuss compensation for the affected fishermen but the company had not yet finalised an offer.

Fishermen were still concerned whether they should venture out to sea, he said, as there were reports of oil being sighted near rigs ten, 12 and 14.

In September 2023, Fullarton, Cedros fishermen clashed with Heritage officials over the non-payment of compensation for a spill in July 2023 where an estimated 165 fishermen were affected.