Possible threat on people if fish swallow plastic materials from X-Press Pearl ship: MEPA

27 May 2021 05:46 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While saying that many plastic materials are seen scattered along the beach with the debris received from the X-Press Pearl ship , Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said there is a possible threat on people that if fish species in the breading areas swallow those plastic pebbles, those plastics could directly come to us.

"However, if these plastic pebbles break into microplastics, the situation will be more serious," she said

"There could be a huge impact for both Marine and coastal environments with the debris from the X-Press Pearl ship, which caught fire near the Colombo Harbor," she added.

She expressed these views during an inspection visit to the beach area in Negombo today.

"Though the beach area from Dikovita up to Negombo was polluted with debris yesterday, we found the waste up to Angulana today. Yesterday we identified seven highly polluted areas and already deployed more than 900 tri-forces official to clean those areas and as well as to get an assessment of the environmental pollution caused to the area extending to Moratuwa from Wellawatte," she added.

The Chairperson said the impact caused by the ship would be very huge because the area from Uswetakeiyawa to Negombo considered as high fish breeding areas.

"We have already taken water and sand samples to estimate the marine pollution and conducted an air quality monitoring," she said

"At the moment the MEPA is observing long term impact from the debris, the Chairperson added. (Chatuanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 9

Sandy Thursday, 27 May 2021 06:15 PM

Fish will excrete indigestible thing ,the real threat is if this plastic gets mixed with water in salterns , then salt will have microplastic

RoaringCreek Thursday, 27 May 2021 06:17 PM

Make me laugh. What is the difference between the plastic from the sicken ship and what we dump into the sea.

Tour guide Thursday, 27 May 2021 07:21 PM

The beach and lagoon was already a plastic dump. All my foreign costumers(tourists) mentioned this. Very embarrassing how Srilankans just throw trash in nature

E. Perera Thursday, 27 May 2021 07:42 PM

So much plstics are disposed into oceans througout the world. Yet people continue to eat fish. This lady is just ruining the livelyhood of thousands of fishemen when people stop buying fish.

Sambo Thursday, 27 May 2021 07:51 PM

Poor fisherman. Now they will not be able to their catch. They already suffering with the Virus and suffering to meet the days end. This like "Higanage Pathrayta Henahrua Watuna Wagae"

Zam Thursday, 27 May 2021 08:35 PM

Money talks !! Why does all the ships catch fire in Sri Lanka waters also the ship was rejected by two countries .

Joshua Thursday, 27 May 2021 09:48 PM

The ship which was rejected by 2 countries was allowed in to SL waters as we are beggars and want every cent.

A Thursday, 27 May 2021 11:43 PM

Wije Friday, 28 May 2021 12:39 AM

Heard when rejected by other countries we allowed ship to enter , Asking

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Possible threat on people if fish swallow plastic materials from X-Press Pearl ship: MEPA

Comments - 9

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