Dongsha Marine National Park holds a marine oil pollution response drill

On December 24 a marine oil pollution emergency response drill was held in Dongsha Marine National Park by the Marine National Park Headquarters and the Dongsha Coastguard Command of the Southern District Office, the Coast Guard Administration to improve the oil pollution emergency handling knowledge and skills of the personnel stationed on Dongsha and strengthen marine conservation concepts.

The atoll was formed by coral over millions of years and includes island, coastal forest, lagoon, tidal belt, coral reef, sea weed bed and marine ecosystems that are different but interdependent. If an oil spill occurs the marine ecosystem around the atoll will be seriously damaged unless rapid anti-pollution action is taken. The atoll is a long distance from Taiwan and if there is an oil pollution incident the equipment and manpower to deal with it will not be able to arrive immediately, consequently, personnel from various bodies stationed on Dongsha were combined, an oil pollution prevention system has been established and pollution prevention drill carried out to allow any oil spill incident to be responded to as soon as possible and damage reduced to a minimum.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Marine National Park Headquarters