Opening a two day workshop on capacity building on oil spill response in Zanzibar yesterday, Communication, Transport and Works Deputy Secretary, Shomari Omar Shomari said the protection scheme should involve ways to combat the spills, to protect and rescue marine environment in case of incidents.
He said oil played an important role in economies of the developing countries, but its negative impact on marine environment was enormous if the spills were not controlled, adding that oil companies in Zanzibar had no contingency plan in place, making it impossible to combat a small spill.
“Tourism industry, one of the Isles’ major economic engines, will be severely affected with one incident of oil spill,” he warned, saying even the sea creatures and other biodiversity elements such as mangroves may be destroyed, with an apparent decline of the national economy.
Against the background of the possible environmental catastrophe, Shomari said the workshop was organized to work out a collective road map with international partners for a common mission and goal in dealing with oil spills.
The capacity building workshop aimed at protecting marine environment from oil spill was organized and facilitated by the Norwegian Coastal Administration from Norway under Oil for Development Programme (OfD) and coordinated by Zanzibar Marine Authority (ZMA) that brought together all partners and their respective areas of expertise around a common mission and goal.
He said the workshop was also aimed at looking for ways to fight the spills through exchange of knowledge and sharing experience with partner states and organizations.
Zanzibar Marine Authority Director General Abdi Maalim said though Zanzibar has never experienced any major oil spill, it was high time to create awareness among the stakeholders in the form of knowledge and skills for pre-emptive measures since the Isles were not spared of oil-spill motives including damage of exploration rigs, wreckage of ship tankers and single buoy mooring.
“The workshop is a clear testimony of commitment to supporting Zanzibar’s efforts in safeguarding marine environment,” he stressed.
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