Tokyo To Apply Japanese Attention To Detail To Mangrove Clean-up

C: Xavier Coiffic - Unsplash

Following an oil spill in the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius, sources now indicate that Japan is proposing a system whereby mangrove trees are wiped by hand to ensure the removal of all oil coming ashore.

If followed through on, the idea will also include the removal of all fallen leaves covered in the spilled oil by an as of yet undisclosed firm selected by the Mauritian government.

The spillage itself began on July 25th, when the Japanese oil tanker Wakashio ran aground on submerged coral banks not far from Pointe d’Esny.

As a result, an estimated 1,000 tons of the 3,800 tons of fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel carried by the ship have leaked out into the surrounding waters.

In response to the event, Japan’s Environment Ministry has said that the use of high pressure jet washes with chemicals usually used in cases of oil spills could not be used in this case as they would cause harm to the sensitive mangroves.

Instead, Japanese experts already on the ground have confirmed the effectiveness of the manual method of washing down the oil covered mangroves.

The Japanese government in Tokyo is now also reported to be considering the dispatch of ornithological and wildlife experts to help with issues facing the area’s birds and other wildlife

In Mauritius meanwhile, after demonstrations at the weekend demanding Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth resign, it is understood that a legal case has now been filed against the nation’s environment minister Kavydass Ramano, and also the fisheries minister. Both will appear in court at a later date.

Mark Buckton

Mark is a journalism vet of 20 years with most of those years spent in Tokyo, Japan, as a columnist for The Japan Times and numerous other publications. His work has appeared on CNN, in the BBC, NPR, and in several dozen other media forms and publications across five continents.