Oman continues monitoring, responding to oil pollution along coastal areas

Muscat: The Environment Authority is continuing monitoring, follow-up and response operations to address the oil pollution incident, with the latest field results indicating that approximately 12 kilometres of coastline in the Ras Madrakah area have been affected by the pollution.
Field teams are currently working to address the affected coastline, while no significant traces of pollution have been detected at other monitored locations.

The latest monitoring results also confirmed that no impacts from the oil pollution have reached the shores of Masirah Island, although the southern part of the island lies within the area potentially at risk of being affected.

Regarding the oil slick in the sea, updated monitoring data and models indicate that it continues to move along its observed offshore trajectory southeast of the Wilayat of Masirah and toward the open sea. Authorities are continuing to track its movement in light of changing marine and weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Quality Center is continuing field monitoring, inspections and laboratory testing to ensure the safety of fishery products amid developments related to the oil pollution in the marine environment.

As part of its precautionary measures, the Center is monitoring fish landing sites, seafood processing facilities and fish markets, as well as tracking landing activities and the sources of catches. Samples are being collected and subjected to laboratory testing to assess their safety.

The Center has also formed technical teams to monitor coastlines and fish landing sites in governorates along the Arabian Sea, as part of ongoing efforts to assess any potential impact on fishing grounds and ensure the safety and quality of fishery products available to consumers.

The measures form part of Oman’s ongoing integrated response to the oil pollution incident, with authorities continuing to monitor potentially affected areas, assess environmental impacts and implement precautionary measures to protect marine ecosystems and public health.