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Impact of Oil Spill in the Bangladesh Sundarbans

Atiqur Rahman Sunny
Research Assistant, ECOFISHBD Project, World Fish Bangladesh and South Asia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest of the world which is a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Different marine vehicles use this channel as transportation route and causes accidents but very few studies focused on this issue. After a devastating oil tanker accident on 09 December, 2014 based on field work this study identifies the character of the spilled oil, range of the spillage, impact of spillage on aquatic environment, mangrove and human. This study makes a contribution to present adverse impact of oil spillage through vehicle transportation along the Sundarbans. Alternative river transportation routes must be launched from Mongla port to other parts of the country as soon as possible. Training, equipment and experience will improve the response to environmental emergencies and reduce the impacts on local communities and ecosystems.

Keywords: Sundarbans, Oil spillage, Environment, Human, River, Transportation

Location: Chila, Paschim Chila and Joymonigul of Bagerhat district.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Water pollution, Sundarban

Objectives:

The oil deposited on the soil, plants leaves, roots, pneumatophores, stems and floating fruits etc [9] . It is very important to investigate the adverse impact of this oil spill and this study deals with potential impact of oil spill on environment and human being living near Sundarbans.

Methodology:

Study sites: The study was conducted in three forest dependent communities of the Sundarbans. The communities were Chila, Paschim Chila and Joymonigul of Bagerhat district.

Livelihoods of these communities were mainly dependent on fisheries (90%) with diverse job portfolios such as fishing (main livelihood), fish drying, fish trading, net mending, boat making and repairing activity, as well as fuel wood, timber and thatching material collection.

Data Collection To collect empirical data, household survey and survey during fishing was conducted and a number of qualitative tools such as interviews, focus group discussions, and oral history were employed. Secondary data were mainly collected from Office of the Chief Conservator of Forest, Khulna. In addition, different scholarly articles and relevant literature was excerpted through online search. All of these gathered data were comprehensively reviewed, synthesized and relevant information have used in this study.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2017; 5(5): 365-368

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Oil spill incident within a wildlife protected area like the Sundarbans is very alarming due to substantial risk of adverse impact on both the environment and dependent communities. Appropriate mitigating measures should be taken to prevent such incidents again. It would be better if the cargoes and marine vehicle use alternative route for transportation so that alternative river transportation routes could launch from Mongla port. Monitoring should be stronger to assess any long-term or critical effect on biodiversity of the Sundarbans and dependent communities. Training and awareness rising program on importance of the Sundarbans, adverse impact of oil spillage on environment and dependent community could improve the situation by raising awareness among the community, officials of Department of Forest, vehicle owner, driver and labor.

Knowledge Management: Journal