A few things do not make sense. The government issued a statement saying that there was no evidence that suggest a spill in the area. This is contrary to what the people living on the impacted coasts are saying.

Acting Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio released a statement that there was no evidence of oil spillage in the area where the New Zealand naval ship HMNZS Manwanui sank except for small leakages coming from the sunken vessel.

His statement has the backing of credible people. His exact words are, “There is no evidence of oil spillage onto the reefs, ashore and around the area, as of 1030hrs this morning, except for small leakages of oil coming from the vessel.”  

“This has been contained using specialised equipment being deployed onsite.

“A combined full force and priority has been given to this incident and a team of divers and marine experts have been deployed out to the site of the vessel.”

If that is the case then why has the Ministry of Natural Resources told villages from Siumu to Tafitoala not to fish in the area? Surely, they are safe if there is only a small fuel leakage. The villagers have been placed in a tight situation.

For most of the families on the coastline, the sea is a way of life. For most, their only source of income comes from the bounty provided by the ocean.

The Samoa Conservation Society in their rapid assessment of the Safata coast on Monday found limited signs of oil pollution or debris on the nearby shore.

Possibly there was a limited amount of oil or fuel from the vessel but it is a concern. The Samoa Conservation Society was also informed of dead turtles on the reef. They have called for more investigation.

They have recommended oil spill management experts and divers to investigate the wreck and longer-term action was needed to deal with oil still in the sunken hull.

A group of young men surfing at Tafitoala said when they returned to shore, their bodies were covered with an oil-like substance. It could be their imagination because according to the government, there is no oil spill.

How much of a spill or leakage is needed to become concerned? Is there a specific quantifiable figure that is needed to say there is an emergency on our hands? Any amount of fuel spill or leak especially from a sunken vessel suggests that more leaks are possible. It would show in the coming days if the fuel inside the hull is contained or not.

The current sightings by people suggest that it could be worse than what is being said. Further investigation is needed.

Marine scientists agree that the initial impact of an oil spill can vary from minimal impact to large-scale mortality within a particular biological community.

 Spilt oil poses serious threats to fresh water and marine environments, affecting surface resources and a wide range of subsurface species that are linked to a complex food chain that includes human food resources.

Oil toxicity is reduced as the oil weathers. An oil spill that reaches a shore quickly will be more toxic to the shore life than if the slick has been weathering at sea for several days before stranding. The greatest toxic damage is caused by spills of lighter oil such as diesel, particularly when confined in a small area. Isn’t diesel the 1000 tonnes of fuel being carried on the HMNZS Manawanui?

Let us hope that the final assessment of the situation bears good news for the people living on the affected coastlines. They are afraid for their future.

On Tuesday, a group of brave civil servants from across different ministries braved the rough weather conditions to carry out an assessment. They did a good job out in the open collecting samples and trying to deploy booms to contain the oil spill.

The government and New Zealand also need to consider compensation for the villages impacted by the closure of the area as it is their livelihood. We talk about climate change compensation and climate funding on the international stage, we all know where that is heading.

How about starting on a small scale and compensating and financing the coastal communities in need now? We also implore quick action to drain the remaining fuel from the sunken ship. While the New Zealand Navy is looking at a loss of over NZ$100 million, the people of Samoa are looking at damages that cannot be measured in monetary terms.