KARACHI, Sept 9: The fourth subcommittee formed by the Sindh Environment Pollution Agency (SEPA) to evaluate/assess the effect of oil spill on birds and marine life other than the fish in their report have declared that the oil spill has done no direct harm to marine turtles, but a long term joint study is needed to avoid genetic damage to birds and amphibious life.

The committee consists of the Sindh Wildlife Department, the Zoological Survey of Pakistan and the WWF Pakistan.

The report states that some eight dead turtles were found by workers at the Clifton beach, but the cause death could not be established.

The WWF and the SWD. two main components of the committee, have stated that the report is only based on visual observations and without any technical study.

The report says the main turtle beaches of Sandspit and Cape Montze remained unaffected by the spill due to the direction of the wind. Both the SWD and the WWF have turtle projects at Sandspit.

According to the SWD, three crows and one cormorant were found covered with crude oil and no significant damage has been observed to the main turtle beaches and the turtle population. The WWF has stated that small patches of oil and sheen have been witnessed at Sandspit and west of Manora. — PPI