Oceana’s proposals to put a stop to the chronic hydrocarbon pollution of the seas

Oceana is working towards eliminating illegal hydrocarbon dumping from vessels. Although some European countries have put inspection and control systems into operation, together with legislation to pursue those who commit these crimes, they are insufficient in every respect.

Updating European legislation, improving controls at sea and in ports, increasing the proper treatment of waste and prosecuting offenders are all outstanding tasks which Oceana is helping to rectify.

Prosecuting offenders

Oceana has proposed the approval of a new EU Directive which would allow criminal sanctions to be imposed on the vessels, companies and individuals involved in illegal hydrocarbon dumping at sea. The current laws, both national and international, have been proven ineffective when it comes to discouraging these activities, which are harmful to public health and the marine ecosystem.

Inspections, controls and the fight against pollution

There is a need for European nations to equip themselves with better systems for controlling, detecting, preventing and monitoring hydrocarbon dumping at sea. The impunity that protects most dumping at sea is made possible due to many countries’ lack of inspection and detection equipment. Observation and inspection tasks barely manage to detect 5%-10% of the hydrocarbon dumping that takes place at sea each year. And in the case of serious accidents, there are barely any measures to fight against their effects.

Oceana has called for the vessels and companies involved in illegal dumping to be placed on a “black list”, for subsidies to be withdrawn and for them to be banned from trading with Europe.

Treating and reducing waste

Although the European Union passed a new Directive for the treatment of hydrocarbon waste on land, its application is still deficient and many ports lack the necessary installations. Oceana has called for these installations to be updated.