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Little improvement in Hong Kong beach pollution
Marine Pollution Bulletin
nental Shelf (STOCS) study which BLM conducted from 1975-1977. The study concluded that since chemical assessment revealed no Ixtoc oil in the sediment, the significant drop in animal population could not be definitely attributed to the oil spill. It proposed three alternative explanations, tropical storms which impacted the study area a few months before both sampling periods, large decreases in the oxygen content of bottom water in the region or natural seasonal variations in the populations of the species studied. As a result of its study, ERCO makes a number of suggestions for future damage assessment projects. It recommends that in-depth biological impact studies should be performed only after chemical analysis has indicated a likely impact of the spilled oil on the environment and that field samplings in different years should be done at the same time of year to reduce uncertainty caused by seasonal changes. It also suggests that sampling studies should continue after a significant biological change is observed to monitor the natural recovery of the environment and to study seasonal population variations. A limited number of copies of the ERCO report are available from Procurement Assistant, Studies Staff, BLM, New Orleans OCS Office, Suite 841, Hale Boggs Federal Building, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
Texas Oil Spill Conference Technical papers and films are requested for the Eighth Conference on the Prevention, Behaviour, Control and Cleanup of Oil Spills, scheduled for 28 February to 3 March next year in San Antonio, Texas. Films from industry representatives, government agencies, conservation groups and other participants must be 16 mm, in English, and cover oil pollution prevention and control topics. Sales-oriented films or video tapes will not be accepted. Films should be submitted, no later than 5 January 1983, to Charles Rentz, Texaco USA Inc., PO Box 712, Port Arthur, TX 77640, USA. An exposition of oil spill control, recovery and disposal equipment will be held in conjunction with the conference. The exposition will feature exhibits of spill-warning devices, mechanical and pneumatic containment devices, remote sensing instruments, and beach and coastal zone restoration equipment, among others. Booths with an area of about nine square metres are available at a cost of $600. Further information from Trade Associates Inc., Suite 105, 4701, Willard Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
Little Improvement in H ong Kong Beach Pollution The Hong Kong government has been criticized for making what are described as only "minor improvements"
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to its beaches since a shock report on their polluted state was released two years ago. The author of the report, Chinese University biology lecturer Dr Mark Kai-keung, claims that some beaches are actually in a worse state than in 1980. The main problem is untreated sewage. Although the government announced plans to spend HK$2 billion to improve the situation following the report, details of new or improved treatment facilities have yet to be announced. The report recommended that three beaches should be closed, as their pollution level posed serious health hazards to swimmers, and that warning signs should be posted on another three. So far the government has declared only one of the beaches unsuitable for swimmers.
Japanese Wildlife Trade to be Monitored Japan is to open an office in Tokyo to enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which it recently accepted. The country is a major wildlife trader and, among other things, a leading importer of shells, coral, reptile skins and tropical fish. The new office, called TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce), will be modelled on similar operations in the US, Germany and the UK and will work closely with customs officials to ensure the CITES regulations are adhered to. However, upon acceptance of CITES, Japan listed nine reservations, exceptions to importing endangered species, plants and animals, and has since added two more to her list, which now includes three species of whales, three of sea turtles, three of monitor lizards and the saltwater crocodile. The Tokyo office will be headed by Tom Milliken, a Japanese-speaking American conservationist, who will report to Mr Hyosuke Kujiraoka, former director of the Japanese Government's Environmental Protection Agency. It will be backed by a strong scientific advisory committee under Dr Hideo Obara, one of the country's leading zoologists and a member of the Board of World Wildlife Fund Japan.
Round-the-World News Caribbean
Despite the strong support intitially given to UNEP's Caribbean Action Plan by the United States, the Reagan administration has failed to commit its share of $500 000 to the $8.2 million needed by the Caribbean Trust Fund. To date, 25 countries have pledged contributions to the Fund and it had been hoped a US pledge would have been made when the Reagan administration's Caribbean Basin Initiative was announced earlier this year.
nental Shelf (STOCS) study which BLM conducted from 1975-1977. The study concluded that since chemical assessment revealed no Ixtoc oil in the sediment, the significant drop in animal population could not be definitely attributed to the oil spill. It proposed three alternative explanations, tropical storms which impacted the study area a few months before both sampling periods, large decreases in the oxygen content of bottom water in the region or natural seasonal variations in the populations of the species studied. As a result of its study, ERCO makes a number of suggestions for future damage assessment projects. It recommends that in-depth biological impact studies should be performed only after chemical analysis has indicated a likely impact of the spilled oil on the environment and that field samplings in different years should be done at the same time of year to reduce uncertainty caused by seasonal changes. It also suggests that sampling studies should continue after a significant biological change is observed to monitor the natural recovery of the environment and to study seasonal population variations. A limited number of copies of the ERCO report are available from Procurement Assistant, Studies Staff, BLM, New Orleans OCS Office, Suite 841, Hale Boggs Federal Building, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
Texas Oil Spill Conference Technical papers and films are requested for the Eighth Conference on the Prevention, Behaviour, Control and Cleanup of Oil Spills, scheduled for 28 February to 3 March next year in San Antonio, Texas. Films from industry representatives, government agencies, conservation groups and other participants must be 16 mm, in English, and cover oil pollution prevention and control topics. Sales-oriented films or video tapes will not be accepted. Films should be submitted, no later than 5 January 1983, to Charles Rentz, Texaco USA Inc., PO Box 712, Port Arthur, TX 77640, USA. An exposition of oil spill control, recovery and disposal equipment will be held in conjunction with the conference. The exposition will feature exhibits of spill-warning devices, mechanical and pneumatic containment devices, remote sensing instruments, and beach and coastal zone restoration equipment, among others. Booths with an area of about nine square metres are available at a cost of $600. Further information from Trade Associates Inc., Suite 105, 4701, Willard Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
Little Improvement in H ong Kong Beach Pollution The Hong Kong government has been criticized for making what are described as only "minor improvements"
220
to its beaches since a shock report on their polluted state was released two years ago. The author of the report, Chinese University biology lecturer Dr Mark Kai-keung, claims that some beaches are actually in a worse state than in 1980. The main problem is untreated sewage. Although the government announced plans to spend HK$2 billion to improve the situation following the report, details of new or improved treatment facilities have yet to be announced. The report recommended that three beaches should be closed, as their pollution level posed serious health hazards to swimmers, and that warning signs should be posted on another three. So far the government has declared only one of the beaches unsuitable for swimmers.
Japanese Wildlife Trade to be Monitored Japan is to open an office in Tokyo to enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which it recently accepted. The country is a major wildlife trader and, among other things, a leading importer of shells, coral, reptile skins and tropical fish. The new office, called TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce), will be modelled on similar operations in the US, Germany and the UK and will work closely with customs officials to ensure the CITES regulations are adhered to. However, upon acceptance of CITES, Japan listed nine reservations, exceptions to importing endangered species, plants and animals, and has since added two more to her list, which now includes three species of whales, three of sea turtles, three of monitor lizards and the saltwater crocodile. The Tokyo office will be headed by Tom Milliken, a Japanese-speaking American conservationist, who will report to Mr Hyosuke Kujiraoka, former director of the Japanese Government's Environmental Protection Agency. It will be backed by a strong scientific advisory committee under Dr Hideo Obara, one of the country's leading zoologists and a member of the Board of World Wildlife Fund Japan.
Round-the-World News Caribbean
Despite the strong support intitially given to UNEP's Caribbean Action Plan by the United States, the Reagan administration has failed to commit its share of $500 000 to the $8.2 million needed by the Caribbean Trust Fund. To date, 25 countries have pledged contributions to the Fund and it had been hoped a US pledge would have been made when the Reagan administration's Caribbean Basin Initiative was announced earlier this year.