Madang Lagoon Water Quality Monitoring - May 2002
Cannery Caught - 25/9/02
Illegal Dumping - 15/11/02
Kananam Update - 11/5/03
Toxic acid spill in Alexishafen Harbour killing fish and people - 12/5/03
RD Tuna Pollution Allegations - 3/6/03
Madang tuna excesses unveiled Viewpoint - 5/6/03
Pollution Concern - 25/9/03
PNG Gov Department finds RD tuna guilty of polluting lagoon 27/11/03
Madang Flooding March 2004
THE MADANG LAGOON PAPUA NEW GUINEA - BACKGROUND
Protecting Asia's marine mammals - Fall 1999.
California Sues Supermarkets for Failure to Warn Public of Mercury in Fish 17/1/03.
High Levels of Mercury in Albacore Tuna 19/6/03
Workers have been alarmed about oil spills at the Port of Vidar. Fishing boats are often tied up at the dock side by side. Oil has been noticed at the back of these vessels, but because of the way they are moored it is sometimes impossible to determine which vessel is leaking.
Ships are hosed down in the harbour and nets are not cleaned properly. Flys are a big problem now and there are big questions being asked about the liquid being used to break down oil after spills in Harbour.
Local landowners have complained that fishing at Vidar has been negatively impacted since RD started their operations in PNG in 1996.
RD fishing vessels use drift nets. Reports have stated that dolphins have been caught in these nets and sharks are definned whilst still alive. Local landowners have reported declining fish catches at Vidar and pollution problems from the Siar canning factory.
RD have been accused of dumping waste indiscriminately in the lagoon catchment areas to purposely upset locals. According to local fishermen the water quality of the lagoon has declined since RD started their operations in 1996/7.
People have also accused RD of selling poor quality tuna to PNG people. The better quality tuna is sold internationally.
(Above) RD fishing vessels moored at the Port of Vidar
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
The Madang Lagoon is the largest and more complex lagoon along the North Coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
It is located at 5 degrees latitudeSouth and 145 degrees longitude East, between the Equator and the tropic of Capricorn, at the boundary of the colliding Australian and Pacific plates. The lagoon is 16 km long and 3 km wide in average (total area of approximately 48km2) and is bordered on its seaward edge by a narrow barrier reef with 5 major passages that communicate the Lagoon with the open sea: Id Awan, Naz Awan, Dam Awan, Biziwan Awan, and God Awan (from north to south).
The barrier reef is steep sided on its seaward side, with depths of 400 m to 1km. Coarse sand and coral rubble dominate near the deep water passages reefs (Jebb and Lowry, 1995).
Inside the Lagoon the bottom is even in depth (30-40 m) and there are numerous shallow patch reefs and coral rubble islands that support rich fringing reefs. A thick layer of silty clay that supports a rich burrowing fauna covers most of the lagoon bottom. The inner coastline is much dissected and it has shallow fringing reefs between 10m and 15m wide.
Many habitats are represented along the Madang Lagoon such as coral reef, sea grass and mangroves that harbour spawning aggregation sites and nursery areas. However, the main importance of the Madang Lagoon lies on its highly heterogeneous reef system. To date 858 pecies of reef fish have been recorded in the Madang Lagoon that represent the 57% of the PNG, the 22% of the Indo West/Central Pacific and around the 11% of the world's reef fish fauna.
Estimates of coral species diversity are as high as 700 species (A.Jenkins, 2002). It is also of notice that 18 species of mangroves can be found around the mouths of Meiro, Sek, Nagada and Biges (Rau, 1988) and 5 sea grass species along the coast that support a diverse holoturian fauna (Pearse, 1988).
Although within the tropical strip, the PNG climate is strongly influenced by El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event (Jebb and Lowry, 1995). Generally in Madang there are two differentiate seasons; the dry season between July and November and the wet season, affected by the North West (NW) monsoon, from December to June. The precipitation average is about 3000mm a year.
The New Guinea Current (NGCU) dominates the oceanography of the Northern New Guinean waters. The current has a maximum speed of 40 to 70 cm/sec (2km/h) at a depth of 200m. NGCU has a high salinity, low tritium concentration and a high dissolved oxygen concentration (Tsuchiya et al, 1990). Surface currents flow West to East during the period of June to August and change afterwards to an eastward moving surface current by the influence of the North-West monsson. The change on the current direction induces the movement of water from deeper levels to the surface along the coast. The onset of the up welling has been observed in Nagada Harbour in Madang Lagoon, where the NW monsoon has been correlated with the distinct and rapid reduction in surface water temperatures (A.Jenkins, 2003).
Surface Temperatures on the North Coast of New Guinea varies around 29 to 30 C, among the highest known in tropical regions. Visibility is generally poor by tropic oceanic standards and it rarely exceeds 20 m.
The river catchment for the Madang lagoon is relatively small. Two major rivers discharge into the lagoon; Biges on the extreme North and Meiro on the extreme South. Both carry silty water through the lagoon after heavy rain, which can traverse the whole lagoon and leave the lagoon rapidly without mixing appreciably (Jeb and Lowry, 1995). Other rivers are Marrain, Nagada and Miss (North to South). During heavy rain silty water coming from the Gum and Gogoi rivers, located Southern from the Lagoon, enters the Lagoon through God Awan passage.
Due to its biological richness, the Madang Lagoon was designated as a priority area by the PNG Conservation Needs Assessment study (CAN) in 1993. Wetlands International has been helping some communities along the Lagoon to delineate boundaries and establish different protection regimes of identified marine areas. A couple of Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) have been established so far: Sinub and Tab. The protected areas of Laugum and Tabad are about to be gazetted as WMAs and progress towards the establishment of another recently proposed area at Kananam has been made. These areas cover approximately the 27% of the Madang Lagoon and include most of the habitats, although mangroves and sea grass are unrepresented. Around a 4% of the Lagoon is fully protected from all forms of resource extraction, 17% is considered a "high level" managed fishery with only line fishing permitted and 3% is considered a "low level" managed fishery with subsistence fishing allowed using non destructive methods (A. Jenkins, 2003).
Tab Island WMA is the most important network site in terms of fish stock replenishment for the Madang Lagoon. It is centrally located and is a year round spawning aggregation site (A. Jenkins, 2003).
Possible sources of pollution
Any natural area with human settlements is subjected to impacts due to usage and wastes disposal. However, impacts can be diminished when management practices are implemented. The major factors that potentially could affect the Madang Lagoon marine environment are population growth, urban development and industries, agriculture and forest clearing an shipping and port development.
Population growth: PNG has an annual population growth of 2.3% (UNDP, 1998) although Madang town experienced an annual growth up to 3.5% during the 90's due to migrations coming mainly from the Islands of Bouganville and New Britain (Kunewai, unpublished). The increased demand of primary needs such as food and water as a consequence of population growth both in rural and urban areas puts strong-pressure on the Madang Lagoon natural resources. At the same time increased sewage and disposals that accumulate near villages will ultimately end up in river systems and the sea.
Urban development: Overloading of solid and sewage waste disposal systems, over-collection of local food organisms and other materials and the physical modification or destruction or chemical pollution of local natural areas and habitats are the major impacts occurring in growing urban areas. Also a large amount of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable matter accumulate near the coast, causing physical damage to corals and fish (Hunnam et al, 2001).
Shipping and port development: Ship and boat operations impact on marine life in different ways: sewage waste, waste engine oil and garbage. Fuel spilt into a shallow or enclosed area kills sedentary marine organisms. Ships and boats use antifouling paints that are highly toxic to marine life and accumulate in sediments and shellfish. Leakage of any of the products carried by boats (such as chemicals, oil...) may cause major pollution accidents. In PNG shipwrecks are commonly found on some of the outer islands and outer reefs. Shipwrecks cause coral breakage and mortality of the marine life if oil and fuel are lost to the environment (Hunnam et al, 2001).
Existing industries: the main impact is the sewage disposal of residual waters and solids. Disposal waters that are not properly treated but directly discharged to creeks could badly impact on rivers and estuarine sites. The same could happen with the new incoming projects if not properly planned and set up. Specifically, food processing industries produce large volumes of liquid wastes with high organic contents, thus potential sources or water pollution when discharged without full treatment into streams or sea. Once in the sea the impact of such spillages can spread over a wide area with time (Hunnam et al, 2001). The tourism industry is another potential source of sewage input into marine waters. At the same time careless tourism can become a physical threat for marine life, due to bad practices such as stepping on corals.
Agricultural practices: intensive agriculture increases sediment run-off that carries organic matter, pesticides and herbicides that pollute inshore habitats and kill marine life (Hunnam et al, 2001).
Logging or forest clearing: poor logging practices, ground clearance and levelling result in soil erosion and high sediment run-off into coastal wetlands and the sea. As a consequence water clarity and light penetration is reduced and bottom communities smothered (Hunnam et al, 2001).
Water contaminants ... Most materials normally considered as pollutants occur naturally in the sea: organic matter, metals, oil, particulate material, hot water, radioactive materials...but the uncertainty about marine pollution relates to the levels at which these substances become polluting. In coastal waters organic matter, nutrients, micro-organisms, metals and toxicants are the most critical contaminants and some of them have been assessed in this monitoring project.
Organic matter: organic matter is generally subject to bacterial degradation. However when the rate of organic matter input exceeds the rate of biodegradation due primarily to sewage disposal, several consequences arise such as depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water and nuisance of aquatic plant growth (Tamata et al, 1993). ...
Nutrients: nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are essential for primary production in phytoplankton. Both nutrients are present in organic and inorganic forms and can be used by different organisms. However, high inputs of nutrients can cause algae bloom that diminishes light penetration and induces fish and coral death. Corals are especially sensitive to concentrations of phosphorus in the water. The coral seleton is composed largely of calcium carbonate. Various forms of phosphorus inhibit calcium carbonate formation that leads to decrease in coral growth or even death (Hawker and Connell, 1992). ...
II RATIONALE
Marine Ecosystems in Papua New Guinea are among the richest in the world. While these ecosystems are relatively intact compared to those in parts of the Philippines and Indonesia, they are in serious need of conservation attention. The Madang Lagoon is a clear example. Five major village groups line up along the Madang Lagoon coast: Kananam, Malmal, Riwo, Siar and Kranket. Located at the extreme South of the lagoon is Madang town, which holds a population of around 27000 (Hunnam et al, 2001).
As a whole the Madang Lagoon coastal population largely exceeds 30000 people with the consequent pressure over their natural land and marine resources. Overfishing and the use of destructive fishing practices such as dynamite and cyanide poison by local population can be deleteroius for the reef ecosystem. At the same time, industrial, agricultural and tourism development have flourished during the last decade. Some of the industrial activities around the area are timber mill, food processing, ol sellers, industrial tuna fishing and ship transport. However, no proper planning for either liquid or solid waste disposal or water depuration is in place, which poses a threat to the marine environment. ...Several studies on reef and fish biodiversity were done in the past along the Lagoon, but little was done on water quality...
Above: Creek draining RD Tuna Cannery. Raw sewage has entered Madang Lagoon from this creek.
V CONCLUSIONS
It is obvious that more surveys are needed to better estimate the trigger concentrations inside the Madang Lagoon and its river catchment of all indicators assessed in this study, and at the same time discern whether the assumption made when setting up the trigger levels was right or needs to be changed. However, several points of concern have been identified in this pilot water monitoring study that would give a rough indication on how to proceed in further analysis...
From all the data exposed above we could say that the lagoon is in quite a pristine stage. Most of the indicators, especially those inshore and offshore, had concentrations within the identified trigger level or lower than the interim trigger level described by the ANZECC or WHO, which means that probably are among natural concentrations.
Some points of concern are rivers and river outlets, which in some cases showed concentrations far outside the established "normal" range.. .
#surveys One (indicator)
Two (indicators)
Three (indicators)
three (indicators) sample R6B (ph) 9A (T, DO) 9B (T, Salinity, DO) R6A (all except T) R2A (FC) R1A (salinity, BOD) 1A (FC) R5A (FC) 12B (FC) 12C (salinity)
Points 9A, 9B, R6A and R6B were specifically located on the coast and on the rivers around Siar village to assess the tuna canning factory near it as a potential source of pollution. All of the sampling sites showed abnormal values in at least one occassion and DO, which indicates depletion of oxygen due to high loads of organic matter, was low in three of the sites.
It has been reported by several villagers that the rivers and creeks near the factory are very dirty and smelly. When heavy rain it seems that the ponds and drainage of the factory overflow and all wastes get spread all over the place around the factory and eventually end up to the nearest creeks and rivers. Villagers also explain that women wash the dishes and children play in these waters and some of the children have got sick after it. It seems that these rivers are the ones that have been sampled in this study.
The river point R6A (Siar Creek) is of special concern, since all the indicators except temperature clearly fall off the identified trigger level, indicative of risk of pollution and need to undertake further investigation and appropriate actions.
Madang Lagoon
A spot check of RD Tuna Cannery's operations in Madang by Environment and Conservative Minister Zibe Sasa last Friday found the company illegally operating a bore water well. Mr Sasa directed the company to immediately obtain a water use permit in consultation with the Office of Environment and Conservation (OEC).
"Laws are there to safeguard everyone and you must immediately consult the OEC to obtain your water use permit," Mr Sasa told company plant manager Alex Bernardino. Mr Bernadino asked Mr Zibe to "allow us to go through records to comply with the law".
However, Mr Sasa directed Acting Assitant Secretary for Enforcement and Comliance Branch of OEC Kumaras Kalim, who accompanied him to the cannery, to help get a water use permit issued promptly.
Mr Bernardino said on Monday that the company had submitted applications for three permits to Ms Kalim for processing and approval. The OEC is now processing the application for approval. RD cannery has five bore wells of which three have dried up and two in use without a water permit.
(Compiled by WWF and edited by NFA - 15th November 2002)
INTRODUCTION
There was report from Sek/Kananam community that tuna were thrown over board by several RD Tuna Fishing vessels unloading at Vidar during the week of 21st to 27th of October 2002.
It was claimed that during that week both vessels, Dolly 778 and 780 were unloading catch to the fish plant at Vidar. Two wells from one of these vessels had a leak in their freon pipeline causing freon contamination. Fish from these two wells were rejected by the RD cannery and need to be disposed. It is believed that for this reason all fish in these two fish wells need to be disposed of.
Local crews and workers at the site during that period saw many fish being dumped over board. The local workers also reported that both wells on that vessel were full. Under the conditions of their fishing licenses, no fish should be dumped inside the harbor or near the shore. Fish can be dumped in the open waters where currents can take them out to sea or be buried on land to a depth of no less than 6 feet.
According to their fishing licence conditions, any violation of those conditions could result in taking the Captain of the Vessel to court under the Fisheries Management Acts (1998). This action can also be challenged in Court under the Environmental Contaminants Acts 1983.
On Tuesday 29th of October, Sek/Kananam Ward Councilor, Mr James Sungai informed WWF Office by phone that many people in his Ward was complaining about the smell of rotten fish floating in Sek harbour and many of these fish were washed ashore and around the main Vidar Wharf. It was on the community's request and permission of NFA that WWF together with the Ward Leader and NFA conducted a survey of the lagoon and shore near the wharf for evidence of tuna in the area and including interviewing workers of the RD Tuna Company and the community members of Sek/Kananam.
BACKGROUND
It was reported by the Sek Kananam Community Leader, Councilor James Sungai on Tuesday 29th Novemver, there were problems of stinking tuna floating in the harbour and along the coastline near the Vidar RD Tuna wharf. He claimed that many community members affected by the smell of rotten fish were complaining. Between Wednesday and Thursday of the same week, WWF staff organised a team involving the WWF staff, Councillor and members of the village communities from Sek & Kananam, NFA and including the RD Tuna Community Relations Officer A brief report of the teams finding is presented here. . .
REPORTS FROM INTERVIEWS
It was during the fourth week of October (23rd to 27th) that a carrier vessel and a fishing boat were unloading their catches to the Cold storage at Vidar. One of the vessels (believed to be Dolly 778) have problem with two of her Fish wells (Fish Well no. 9 both Port and Starboard) Freon gas has leaked and contaminated the fish in both wells. It was also reported that both Fish Wells were full. Each of these Fish Wells can hold anything between 15 to 20 metric tonnes each. From fish estimates, both Fish Wells were unlikely to be holding between 30 to 40 metric tonnes of tuna.
Under the fishery Cannery Food Health standard, any fish that is contaminated can not be processed. The cannery therefore must have rejected these fish. It is the responsibility of the RD Tuna Fishing to properly dispose these contaminated fish. Under the Fishing License conditions, all damaged and contaminated fish as such should be disposed in the open ocean where the current can transport them away from land. It is an offence under the Fisheries Management Acts (1998) for fishing companies to dump their waste inside the lagoon or where it will cause direct and indirect health problems.
Several local workers who wish not to be named in this report for fear of losing their jobs, mention that crews on Dolly 778 discharged many fish overboard. Many fish sank while others float. Several bags of rainbow runners and eatable by-catch species were also thrown overboard. Over the weekend (25th to 27th) many fish were drifting in the lagoon between Maiwara, Vidar, Sek station and Kananam Island. All the fish in Fish Well No. 9 totally 30 to 40 metric tonnes were thrown over board by the crews of Dolly 778. These fish were reported to have drifted all the way into Maiwara bay, eastward to Sek station and the island between Vidar wharf and Sek station, and also outward to Kananam Island. Between the 30th and 31st of October, when we went out, there was still evidence of fish on shores and some still floating in the lagoon and around the Vidar Wharf.
CONCLUSION
It was established that rotten tuna were found on the beach near Vidar wharf, and some were still floating in the waters next to the main wharf. The National Fisheries Authority Audit and Certification Officer together with the RD Tuna Community Relations Officer (CRO) were invited to witness some of this evidence on 30th and 31st of October.
National Fisheries Authority conducted a record of interview with one of the locals who had inside information of this situation. He is willing to come forward to give evidence if an investigation is commissioned. After this report has been circulated to all concerned or stakeholders, a meeting will be called to address this issue and that action has to be taken by the company to do something about this . . .
Kananam Update As Of 11 May 2003 by anonymous
On Saturday 26 April 03, RD Tuna Fishing¹s Catcher boat Dolores 829 at around mid-afternoon (estimated time = 1400h) disposed of a substantial amount of its poisonous waste, including more than the usual amount of AMMONIA gas (all catcher boats normally use this ammonia gas to defrost frozen fish for unloading from catcher boats onto the wharf and into the cool storage).
On this particular afternoon and that particular disposal of waste by Dolores 829, turned out to be literally devastating to all the marine life off the Vidar wharf and throughout the Doilon passage. Countless fish died as if from a dynamite blast (a banned method of fishing) and the villagers as well as Vidar workers including security guards and policemen jumped off and gathered as much fish as they could and took to their families/homes without giving any thought to the cause of the dying fish.
On the night of 26 April a young school boy who had eaten some of the fish could not sleep due to food poisoning. And the very next day his brother, also school age, experienced what his brother had gone through the night before.
On the next Monday 28 April 03, with Idawad leaders as our guide, we were able to visit the family and take pictures of one of the boys. Before that we went into the Vidar facility to confirm with police officers there about the incident. Idawad is making follow-ups on that incident, with the policemen as key witnesses to the 26 April incident.
On Tuesday 29 April we received a phone-call from Idawad reporting that a woman was critically ill and admitted at the Alexishafen health centre. Cause of the illness is without doubt (according to Idawad), the very same AMMONIA gas (in the poisonous waste) that was disposed at Vidar on Saturday 26 April 03.
It so happened that on the afternoon of that day (as is a normal daily activity at Vidar) the particular woman was one of the many women who were there for the bartering/exchanging for RD fish. The weather was not as pleasant as normally that afternoon, the sea water was quite rough, and the woman was caught off balance during the exchange activities and her canoe capsized which meant that she had to be in the sea water for no less than a quarter of an hour or so.
As she was struggling in the sea water to get back onto her canoe, the woman took in some of the already contaminated sea water through her mouth, eyes, and nostrils. Getting off balance on the canoe and taking in some sea water is not a new thing for the woman and her companions. BUT in the morning hours of the very next day, straight after mid-night, the woman's family had to rush her to the health centre. It was reported that she had gone through a night of chronic vomiting and diahrea. The report we got also indicated that at the health centre, she was put through a total of seven (7) drips, which is clearly NOT normal.
Monday 12th May, 2003
Toxic acid spill in Alexishafen killing fish and people
A huge amount of concentrated ammonia acid was washed into the Doilon Bay at Vida Point at Alexishafen in Madang by a fishing vessel owned by a Madang-based fishing company resulting in the killing of thousands of fish as well as other marine life in the bay. Already some human lives have been lost and many more are in seriously condition after coming in contact with the dangerous chemical.
Some women and children were admitted to the Alexishafen Health Centre after swimming for the dead fish and drinking the contaminated sea water in the bay. The captain and the crew of vessel ignorantly hosed the dangerous chemical into the Doilon Bay after unloading tuna at the jetty. The police officer employed by the company was present at the time and witnessed the incident but did nothing, not even reporting it to the authorities. The quarantine officer, also employed by the company failed to perform his duties as well and even the medical officers at Alexishafen Health Centre cannot release the diagnostic results of the patients. There seems to be a great network of conspiracy among all of these different officers who are either employed by the company or have some reason to be serving the interest of the company and not protect the human dignity of all those affected.
The foreign fishing company has a bad record of environmental damage in their own country as their company search records shows. This incident has been hushed up by the company and responsible authorities in Alexishafen.
There needs to be a full investigation into the matter It is a serious concern and the company must face the consequences under PNG laws. Can someone in the Department of Madang check this out and take proper action? MADANG
By Brenda Peter.
Madang Governor James Yali will approach the Department of Conservation to look into allegations of pollution against RD Tuna. Mr Yali said he was petitioned by a group from Kananam village near Vidar port to look into the matter.
"If it is a serious matter, I will call the environmental specialists to come and investigate," he said.
The group alleged RD Tuna was polluting the waters and that people were getting sick from eating fish caught in the waters of Vidar port.
The Idawad non-government organisation also alleged that there was a large ammonia liquid gas spill from fishing vessel 829 reportedly owned by RD Tuna Fishing Company.
NGO chairman Francis Gem said two young boys were the first victims from the ammonia liquid gas spilled from the fishing vessel after eating fish that were caught in the waters near the vessel. He said the boys vomited, had diarrhoea and developed stomach swelling and aches after eating the fish. Mr Gem said three other people were severely affected after contact with the liquid gas in the water. All the victims were rushed to Alexishafen Catholic Hospital for treatment.
Sabina Sarea, 22, from Kananam village said she experienced diarrhoea and stomach aches after swimming ashore from the same water where the fishing vessel was when her canoe turned over. North Ambenob Local level Government Member James Sumgai urged RD Tuna to seriously consider the issue, however, company representative June Aitiku said there was no spill in the area.
"There are people making up stories to get free money from the company. There is no oil spill because there is compulsory inspection by environmental specialists," Mr Aitiku said.
Madang tuna excesses unveiled Viewpoint Thursday 05th June, 2003
I REFER to the RD Tuna pollution headline which appeared in the Post-Courier issue of Tuesday, June 3 and would like to thank Madang Governor James Yali for receiving the petition and announcing his decision to approach the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding the allegations.
I heard about these allegations last month through your esteemed newspaper and it appears that those allegations are not unfounded should this issue be put into perspective.
Firstly, RD representative June Aitiku does not deny that there is ammonia liquid gas spill.
Secondly, he went on to raise the issue of oil spill which was never raised by parties concerned.
Thirdly, the medical history at Alexishafen will show that the type of sickness experienced by those people who were rushed to the Alexishafen Catholic Hospital is not common and may be attributed to the activities of the company.
It appears Mr Aitiku can only manage a counter attack on those serious allegations with his comments that people are making up stories to get free money. We do not know of companies giving out free money but Mr Aitiku has raised an issue which should not go unchallenged.
I can sense that free money seems to be the tactic the company adopted to solve its problem. So, it would appear that the local knowledge of the company may be willing to pay people to get what it wants is not unfounded after all. I did not say RD Tuna has been bribing people but it appears that Mr Aitiku may have revealed some company secrets.
I am from Kananam and I know RD Tuna does not give free money so who is Mr Aitiku trying to fool? Mr Aitiku should stick to the issue and address the issue head-on instead of evading the real issue of ammonia liquid gas spill from RD Tuna-owned fishing vessel 829 in Doilon Bay. At last the National Government, through Mr Yali is fully aware of those allegations.
Rudolf Ayu Kananam villager
PORT MORESBY, NCD
A recent media report asserting that WWF has declared the Madang Lagoon as pristine is misleading. And WWF is concerned that the newspaper responsible made the claim when water quality studies have proved otherwise.
WWF commissioned a water quality study of the lagoon, the study revealed that there are istes in the area which are affected by pollution.
WWF PNG Marine Manager Robert Vonole said the study revealed that river water is also affected. :Sites which are under great threat of water pollution are Vidar, Siar and the Madang town wharf area.
WWF believes that these areas need to be monitored and steps must be taken to avert further pollution,” said Mr Vonole.
He noted WWF's concern that the newspaper made references to the water quality report by Doctor Ariadna Benet Monico,
“The findings of the study are contrary to what was carried in the newspaper article. The report has not been finalised nor officially released by WWF and Doctor Monico has confirmed that she was never interviewed by the newspaper although the article was written as such.”
Mr. Vonole said WWF would continue with its work in the region, “Madang is part of the Bismark Solomon Seas Ecoregion, an area identified by marine experts during a biological workshop in July 2003 as being a unique centre of marine biodiversity and we will continue to work with Government and the locl communities to ensure that it is protected.”
For further information Contact Rovbert Vanole WWF PNG Marine Manager tel: 852 3720 or email rvanole@wwfpacific.org.pg
The island of New Guinea, composed of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Irian Jaya, is located on the leading edge of the Australian plate that has been moving rapidly northward.
The country of Papua New Guinea comprises a landmass slightly larger than California (457,000 km2). The north coast of PNG has been formed by collision events along the north edge of the Australian plate and subsequent "docking" of the east Papuan composite and other terranes in mid-late Miocene 15-20 million years ago (Pigram and Davies, 1987).
I suggest the composite marine fauna of the Madang Lagoon is the result of the accretionary process along the north coast of PNG, involving rapid volcanic uplift as islands, archipelagos, submerged plateaus, and continental terranes are thrust rapidly upward in the collisional process. This process differs from other areas of the circum-Pacific where terranes are predominantly of oceanic affinity. This "docking" process introduced a number of previously discrete biotic assemblages that then intermingled with established floral and faunal elements.
Reefs in the Madang Lagoon illustrate the importance of taxonomic data in identifying areas of scientific concern. At first glance the reefs in the Madang Lagoon appear "less spectacular" (in a visual sense) than their southern counterparts on the Great Barrier Reef. However, taxonomic surveys of marine invertebrates suggest that Madang reefs are some of the most biologically diverse reefs yet documented. Sustaining native levels of biodiversity in these reefs as a potential genetic seed source for other South Pacific reefs is important in the larger context of regional biodiversity.
MARINE INVERTEBRATES OF THE MADANG LAGOON
Over the past several years, increasing numbers of scientists have focused their research efforts in the Madang Lagoon in an attempt to document the unusual levels of biodiversity found there. The following information summarizes briefly some of the results and trends that have been documented. A more complete discussion can be found in the Proceedings of the Seventh International Coral Reef Symposium (Richmond, 1992).
Scleractinian Corals
While much attention has been given to scleractinian corals of eastern Australia (Veron & Pichon, 1976, 1979, 1982; Veron and Wallace, 1984; Veron et al., 1977) the nature of reef corals from northern New Guinea was not well understood due to lack of distributional data. Potts suggests the Madang Lagoon may prove to be the single most diverse site for scleractinian corals (Potts, personal communication, 1994).
Hoeksema's recent treatment of fungiid corals (1992) represents the only reef coral family on which detailed distribution and taxonomic data are available for the Indo-Pacific. According to Hoeksema (1992), northern New Guinea appears to have the highest fungiid biodiversity (39 species), with a fauna most similar to that of the Philippines and eastern Indonesia (37 species). Diversity levels of eastern Australia were the next highest (31 species), followed by western Australia and Taiwan (26 species), northwest Java (25 species), southern Papua New Guinea (24 species), and northeast Borneo (19 species).
Hoeksema (1992) stresses that the generic diversity of hermatypic corals in the Indo-Pacific region is quite large, and that lists of genera are not as informative as species diversity and monospecific genera. Because all taxon rankings above the species level are arbitrary, lists that include species and monospecific genera are more likely to reflect evolutionary history, and thus allow for a more precise comparison of biodiversity levels.
Octocorals
Winston (1988) estimates that only 50% of the octocoral fauna from the Indo-Pacific is known at present. Like most other marine invertebrate groups, our basic taxonomic knowledge of the Indo-Pacific octocorals is poorly known (Williams, 1992). A recently described species of octocoral from the Madang Lagoon was unlike any species of the genus previously recorded (Bayer, 1994).
Amphipods
Thomas (1992) found the coral reef amphipod fauna of the Madang Lagoon to exhibit exceptional levels of species diversity. The amphipod fauna of Madang reefs is a composite, consisting of approximately 180 species, 60% of which are new to science and exhibit multiple biogeographic affinities. The Madang Lagoon amphipod fauna is taxonomically distinct from other South and Indo-Pacific sites, and indications are that amphipod biodiversity on the north coast of PNG exceeds that of any coral reef area studied thus far. However, many coral reef systems in the Indo-Pacific have never been systematically analyzed for smaller crustaceans. The author herein suggests that future biodiversity inventories and surveys be undertaken with regard to selective criteria. Due to the limited dispersion capabilities and habitat specificity of amphipods, amphipods may be of use in biogeography and environmental monitoring in coral reef systems.
Crinoids
Messing (1992) reported 39 species of comatulid crinoids from the Madang Lagoon, and with limited sampling, found the crinoid fauna of the Madang Lagoon comparable to other more intensively studied sites such as Lizard Island and Davies Reef (Australia, Great Barrier Reef), and Palau.
Gastropod Molluscs
Working in the Madang Lagoon, Gosliner (1992) found that the north coast of PNG supports a more diverse fauna of opistobranch gastropods (538 species) than has been reported from any single geographical area studied thus far. The next richest tropical site is Guam (395 species), followed by Hawaii (244 species), the Caribbean (232 species), and Japan (184 species). The importance of Gosliner's faunal records are significant because of intensive field efforts in numerous tropical localities by snorkeling and SCUBA that enable comparative studies. Other areas that are known or suspected to house high diversity have not been adequately studied or sampled to allow comparisons of opistobranch biodiversity (Gosliner, 1992). Kristian Fauchald (personal communication, 1994) reported the polychaete fauna of the Madang Lagoon exceeded that of any area yet sampled.
Clyde Roper and Mike Sweeney (personal communications, 1994) reported similar findings for cepahlopod molluscs. In a preliminary survey of the marine algae of the Madang Lagoon, Mark and Diane Littler (personal communications, 1994) reported that not only were there more species of algae collected, but the number of undescribed species surpassed that of any region previously sampled.
The geological history that may have contributed to the extraordinary levels of marine invertebrates in the shallow waters of the north coast of PNG may extend into deeper waters of the region. Studying a collection of deep-sea crustaceans from the Bismarck Sea region (1,200 m), Austin Williams of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Systematics Lab, reports unusual levels and types of biodiversity (personal communication, 1994). More investigation on the deep-sea component of this region are warranted in light of this preliminary information.
http://www.nova.edu/ocean/jthomas/pngms2.html
Protecting Asia's marine mammals by Maria Teresa Concepción
(PLEASE NOTE THAT LOCALS AND WORKERS ARE CLAIMING THAT DOLPHINS ARE BEING KILLED IN FISHING OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY RD TUNA OFF THE COAST OF PNG - MEANING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING PROGRAM IS FALTERING SIGNIFICANTLY) - jj NOV 2003.
International Marine Mammal Project
Since 1992, the International Monitoring Program (IMP) in the Philippines has been monitoring all tuna canneries within its territory, and all Philippine tuna canners have adopted a dolphin-safe corporate policy.
All local large-scale tuna suppliers have been boarded by IMP's Vessel Monitoring Program, and have likewise adopted a dolphin-safe fishing policy. Two full-time monitors and a handful of volunteers monitor major fish deliveries, especially of imports, at the 13 tuna processing companies in the Philippines.
In 1998, both the Philippine and Thailand offices of the IMP rapidly expanded monitoring as canneries from China, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia asked to be accredited by EII.
These include Jie Yang Rex Foods and Ningbo Xiayu Mingda Food Corporation (China); RD Tuna Canning (Papua New Guinea); P.T. Karya Manunggal Prima Sukses, C.V. Samudra Raya, P.T. Biak Minajaya, Tri Sejati Tatafood, and P.T. Maya Food Industries (Indonesia). Earth Island Journal Fall 1999 Vol 14, No 3
http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/fall99/eia_fall99immp1.html
http://www.go2galapagos.com/news/10_6_02_dolphins_killed_eldorado.html
California Sues Supermarkets for Failure to Warn Public of Mercury in Fish - Lawyers for California filed a lawsuit January 17, 2003 against five supermarket stores, alleging that they failed to properly warn consumers that fresh and frozen fish they sell exposes consumers to mercury.
The state’s lawsuit seeks to force these supermarkets to post warnings about mercury in fresh tuna, shark and swordfish (canned tuna was not included). State officials indicated that they were not trying to scare consumers or advise them not to eat fish, but the state wants the FDA federal advice posted at the fish counter so consumers understand there are certain fish species that may be high in mercury. The lawsuit contends that the supermarkets’ failure to provide a warning to consumers violates Proposition 65, a ballot initiative approved in 1986.
http://map1.epa.gov/html/newsfeb03.htm
Sources: Leslie Earnest. The State of California Sues Supermarkets, Alleging Failure to Warn Public of Health Risks of Mercury in Fish. Los Angeles Times, Jan 18, 2003 pB-10.
Bob Egelko. State sues 5 grocery giants over toxic in fish - Warning labels sought for mercury levels in packages of swordfish, tuna, shark. San Francisco Chronicle, January 18 2003.
Link to the article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/18/BA240717.DTL
High Levels of Mercury in Albacore Tuna
In a study released June 19, 2003 by Mercury Policy Project in Montpelier, VT, analysis showed that mercury found in 60 cans of tuna selected randomly from Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles County and Montpelier exceeded the federal recommended maximum dose for women of child-bearing age.The brands of samples tuna were canned by Starkist, Bumblebee and Chicken of the Sea.( See Mercury Policy Project Press Release See Test Results )
The following taken verbatim from Press Release: One of every 20 cans of "white," or albacore, tuna should be recalled as unsafe for human consumption, according to independent testing conducted for the Mercury Policy Project, a public interest group. On average, the levels of mercury in the white tuna were considerably higher than the industry and government claims from outdated FDA tests, said Michael Bender, director of the project.
“Our tests confirm what FDA has known for over a decade; white tuna has higher mercury levels,” said Bender. “Yet because FDA halted testing of canned tuna for mercury in 1998 to save money and because industry keeps its results secret, parents are unknowingly exposing their children to mercury.”
Methylmercury—the organic form mercury assumes in fish—is a potent neurotoxin that poses the greatest risk to the developing fetus, infants, and young children. Data from the CDC indicates that one in 12 women of childbearing age have unsafe mercury levels, translating to over 300,000 babies born at risk each year.
"Our sample size was admittedly small," said Bender. “We chose 60 cans of tuna randomly off grocery shelves, had them tested by the New Age/Landmark Laboratory, Inc. and then had a portion retested by The National Food Laboratory, Inc.—a lab used by the tuna industry—so there is no reason to be believe that these results are not reflective of what millions of Americans consume."
Canned tuna is consumed in 90 percent of American households and accounts for around 20 percent of US seafood consumption. Children eat more than twice as much tuna as any other fish, and canned tuna is the most frequently consumed fish among women of child bearing age. Albacore accounts for about one-third of all canned tuna sold in the U.S. and our independent testing found that mercury levels in white canned tuna averaged over 0.5 ppm.
“FDA’ s own food safety committee recommended last year that the Agency warn pregnant women about canned tuna, but the Agency has failed to act because of undue influence by industry,” said Bender. “FDA should stop protecting the fishing industry’ s profits and start protecting children from mercury.”
How much fish a person can eat before exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’ s (EPA’s) “virtual safe limit,” called a reference dose (RfD), depends on body weight and mercury content of the fish.
For example:
· A 22 pound toddler eating only 2 ounces of tuna per week with a 0.5 ppm mercury concentration would have an intake over 4 times the EPA’ s RfD.
If a woman with a typical weight of 132 lbs eats 12 ounces of canned tuna per week (the limit advised by FDA) with a 0.5 ppm mercury concentration, she will exceed by 4 times the EPA's RfD.
· An 88 pound child consuming one 6 ounce can of tuna with a 0.5 ppm mercury concentration weekly would be exposed to 3 times the EPA's RfD standard. These concerns, however, pale in comparison to the risks of prenatal mercury exposure; in utero fetuses are at risk of neurological impairment from methylmercury passing through the placental barrier.
Nevertheless, at their food safety committee meeting last year, FDA scientists admitted that as many as 50 percent of women in the U.S. have little or no knowledge of mercury exposure risks identified with eating fish. Dr. Alan H. Stern, a toxicologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences committee, who reviewed the EPA's safe dose limit, said that Mercury Policy Project's calculations were accurate. Stern said that he had known that albacore tuna typically tested higher. "I didn't know that it was four times higher," he said.
(San Francisco Chronicle, article by Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer, June 19, 2003, page A10 ) SOURCE: http://www.ecobridge.org/content/c_dxn.htm
PNG Gov Department finds RD tuna guilty of polluting lagoon
Post Courier 27 November 2003 Cannery 'guilty' of pollution
An independent study has found the RD Tuna Cannery in Madang 'guilty' of dumping waste fish into a nearby lagoon. Environment and Conservation Minister William Duma said this while responding to Imbonggu MP Timothy Tala who wanted answers on studies into pollution claims against RD Tuna Cannery in Madang.....
The investigation on RD Tuna was proposed by Bogia MP John Hickey in the last Parliment session overlandowners complaints of foul smell emanating from the factory site. Mr. Duma said a joint investigation by the Trade and Industry, Environment and Conservatrion and Fisheries departments confirmed finding dead fish waste in the lagoon near the factory site. He said the company has been asked to explain the findings.
During the third week of March there was heavy rains and flooding right in Madang. When there is heavy rains and flooding that’s the best time for RD Tuna Canning to dispose of as much stinking, toxic waste as possible, valves are opened to drain out the sewage ponds (used to be six huge ones at the back of the canning facility but they are now constructing more). Their draining out of the ponds containing stinking waste water and fish waste during that week (third week of March) gave the entire vicinity a terribly stinking stench….that could possibly be the worst (bad-bad smell) in recent history of such stinking smells from RD. It was not only the stink but the Nobnob villagers had their food gardens (which lie just behind the cannery fence) over-flooded with stinking, toxic waste, resulting in destruction of their food crops. There was so much flooding, the waste from the sewage ponds overflowed and seeped out through the back fence (corrugated iron). And this was tonnes of toxic waste and water which filled the entire back of the fence and over-flooded the villagers’ food gardens. The villagers managed to take quite a few photographs which will soon be available for circulation to those who may be interested to view.