Destruction of Coral Reefs

In 2007 Stenapa published an impact study that showed that NuStar's oil vessels caused considerable damage to Statia's marine park.

According to the same report, the marine park is one of the top 5 sites in the Caribbean to see healthy coral and fish populations.

A few quotations from the report:

"Anchoring is the main threat to the marine resources caused by the operations of Statia Terminals NV, although pollution is also an important issue with sewage and other wastes including ballast waters entering St Eustatius Marine Park waters from vessels."

"Anchors cause damage to coral reefs during setting, retrieval, and while at anchor;

• Setting: Corals are broken, fragmented, or overturned as the anchor drops into the substratum.
• While at anchor: Once set, further damage occurs by the chain dragging across the substratum or rapping around reef structures
• Retrieval: anchors are dragged along the substrate as the vessel manoeuvres, turning reef into rubble and leaving an anchorage scar.

Coral takes thousands of years to build and the dragging and swinging of large anchor cables and chains destroys coral heads and creates gouges and scars that destabilize the reef structure. The fragile nature of coral reefs also means that they do not provide for stable anchoring. Regeneration of coral reefs from such damage may never occur."

Source: Tanker Anchoring Impact Study and Recommendations St Eustatius Marine Park, by St. Eustatius National Parks (Stenapa), October 2007, page 8. Retrieved August 28, 2011