Australia

Chemical spill in Queensland endangers wildlife

Article published on the 2009-03-11 Latest update 2009-03-11 15:14 TU

A dugong, or 'sea cow' and its baby
(Credit: Wikipedia)

An Australian cargo ship carrying potentially dangerous chemical fertiliser spilled 31 containers of the product into Moreton Bay, a protected marine park off the coast of Brisbane, park authorities said. The boat had encountered very rough water and 260-kilometre/hour winds off the Queensland coast as Cyclone Hamish whipped through the area.

The ship accidentally spilled 620 tonnes of ammonium nitrate into protected Moreton Bay, which is home to endangered species such as dugongs, a mammal also known as a 'sea cow', because they live in the shallow waters in the area and eat seagrass.

The nitrate could suffocate the fish and kill other species, according to environmental experts. "The volume (of the fertiliser) is spectacular for a spill. Really, the long-term problems will relate to the concentration that has spilt in the area," said Mike Kingsford, the head of marine biology at James Cook University.

National news agency AAP also reported that  an oil slick 5.5 km long and 500 metres wide had formed in the area after the accident.