Efren Dominico, a fisherman in the Bay of Manila, Philippines, has been struggling since an oil tanker sank off the coast in July, cutting off his livelihood. The tanker, Terranova, which carried 1,4 million liters of oil, caused the largest oil spill in the country since 2006. Shortly after, two more fuel tankers sank, worsening the pollution and affecting vital fishing grounds.
Local authorities banned fishing and warned against consuming seafood from the affected areas, leading to significant economic hardship for fishermen. Despite promises of aid, many, including Dominico, have received little support aside from some canned goods. The Department of Interior and Local Government is working on the cleanup, while the Department of Justice investigates potential oil smuggling.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard
By early September, most of the oil was siphoned off, but the damage to fishing grounds and decreased seafood demand pushed many into deeper financial trouble. Greenpeace Philippines highlighted the incident as an example of the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
Fishing bans lasted over a month, causing substantial losses estimated at 84 million pesos in Bataan province alone. The spill has had long-term effects on marine life, with recovery expected to take months or even years. Fishermen are demanding compensation and an investigation into why the Terranova was allowed to sail during a storm.
