There is still a risk of an environmental disaster - that's the warning from wildlife experts in the aftermath of the tanker collision off the coast of England.
CGTN correspondent Michael Marillier reports from the scene.
CGTN correspondent Michael Marillier reports from the scene.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Anna Kaui is hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
00:05Kaui is an environmental campaigner based on England's east coast.
00:10She grew more and more worried after two ships caught fire in the North Sea on Monday.
00:16Her biggest fear? That seabirds would be trapped in an oil spill.
00:20It means they can't regulate their body temperatures very well,
00:23they can't fly and they can't feed properly,
00:26so there is a real concern about the impact this could have for wildlife.
00:30East Yorkshire has one of the largest seabird colonies in the UK,
00:34but it's not just birds who flock to the region.
00:38Constituents in my constituency of Bridlington and the Wales
00:40are rightly concerned about the potential environmental and ecological impact,
00:44not least because we have around five million visitors who come to the area every year
00:48enjoying the beaches from Bridlington down to Hornsea.
00:50The incident is ruffling some feathers in Parliament.
00:54What on earth happened in this most extraordinary of events?
00:58Meanwhile, local politicians say the government must do whatever it takes
01:02to prevent an environmental disaster.
01:05The east coast is full of wonderful natural beauty
01:08and it's really important that there cannot be any ecological damage as a result of this disaster.
01:13There needs to be real detailed action set out in terms of the steps that are going to be taken
01:18to make sure that the shores along the east coast are not damaged.
01:22The UK's coastline spans thousands of kilometres.
01:26This incident out in the North Sea is a reminder of what's at stake.
01:31It's also posing the question, can the UK government handle a major environmental disaster?
01:39It's been a testing time for the country's coastguard,
01:43but officials say they have a clear plan in case any pollution enters the water.
01:49A comprehensive counter-pollution response is in place
01:52and His Majesty's coastguard continues to make preparations
01:55for any pollution that may occur as a result of damage to the vessels.
01:59It seems the environmental impact is limited, at least for now.
02:04But Anna says the traffic on the North Sea has forced marine animals
02:08into smaller areas over the last few years, making them vulnerable to disasters.
02:14She thinks authorities should designate more protected zones, free of any ships.
02:20We need to be making sure that we make space for nature
02:24and have multiple designations in place so that it can thrive and wildlife can recover.
02:34This is a beautiful part of Britain.
02:37The challenge now, making sure it stays that way.
02:41Michael Merilia, CGTN, East Yorkshire.