Mediterranean Oil Spill, Israel

Problems

• Israeli coastal plain along Israel's Mediterranean Sea coast, extending 187 kilometers north to south. 
  
  The Mediterranean Sea, Israel’s “blue lung,” offers long stretches of coastline for recreation and serves many of the needs of Israeli society, economy and environment. It contains enormous potential energy resources and is also the primary source of water production for domestic consumption. 

• Causes of the oil spill off the coast of Israel

  A massive  oil spill in February 2021 off the coast of Israel and Lebanon is being called the worst ecological disaster in the Mediterranean country’s history. 
  
  Dozens to hundreds of tons of tar washed up on the beaches along a 160-kilometer (99 mi) stretch of Israel's coast from Rosh Hanikra to Ashkelon following a heavy storm and unusually high waves. Tar deposits also heavily impacted the beaches in south Lebanon. 

• Response to the oil spill

  Thousands of volunteers gathered to help clean up the coastline.
  
  Since cleanup efforts began, some 70 tons of tar and contaminated material have been scraped and collected along the country’s shores. Beaches have been shut down, and the sale of fish and other seafood from the area is prohibited.
  
  The Israeli government has approved a $13.8 million response budget, which will come from the government's Marine Pollution Prevention Fund, established about 40 years ago to pay for clean-up work, oil spill response equipment and training.
  
  The Environmental Protection Ministry said the pollution was due to tens to hundreds of tons of oil spilled from a ship or illegally dumped into the sea from a tanker. 
  
  Ten ships were under investigation, including the Greek ship Minerva Helen, which was initially the authorities' focus.
  
  Evidence from an investigation by the Environmental Protection Ministry at the time indicated that the leak of tens of tons of crude oil that took place came from the Syrian-owned tanker Emerald, which was not insured. The London-based International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund has agreed in principle to pay damages.
  
  Officials dealing with marine issues said they could not remember an incident with a wide geographical spread. The long-term damage to ecosystems remains to be seen.
  
  Shaul Goldstein, Director-General of Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said that the spill setback ecological renewal and protection efforts by decades.
  
  The incident could likely take years to recover from fully. Most importantly, though, there are lessons learned to prevent such disasters in the future, restore tourism, fishing and wildlife, and share the experiences with neighbors near and far.
  

• Consequences on wildlife from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea

  The Mediterranean Sea is home to a wide variety of marine life, including but not limited to Loggerhead turtles, sharks, rays, the Mediterranean monk seal, whales, dolphins, sea bass, tuna and pufferfish. Sadly, many of these fish are threatened with extinction.
  
  After an oil spill off the coast of Israel, a massive amount of tar washed ashore during storm weather, along with a fin whale's carcass about 17 meters long.
  
  Vets carrying out an autopsy on the young whale found black liquid in its lungs, suspecting links to oil spills along the Israeli shoreline.
  
  Numerous marine animals, such as fish, turtles and seabirds, have been found washed ashore and covered in black cling film. 
  
  Beaches along its Mediterranean coast had been contaminated, and wildlife had paid a heavy price.
  The entire coastal ecosystem could be damaged for decades.
  
  Several volunteers who took part in a large-scale coastline cleanup complained of feeling unwell after inhaling toxic fumes and were taken to hospitals.