Mauritius Oil Spill Affected Fishermen Gets Compensation From Ship Operator

It’s been months since the Mauritius Oil Spill from grounded Japanese bulker MV Wakashio happened yet its raging environmental effects are still driving the maritime industry crazy and they are forced to act.

After much difficulty, the Japanese ship operator of the ship had agreed to compensate for the loss of livelihoods in the area and now they have started making compensation payments to the affected fishermen on Tuesday.

• The ship operator is paying 25000 USD to 50 fishermen in total. Each of them will be getting 500USD as compensation.
• Japan P&I Club pledged 9 million dollars to accelerate the oil spill cleanup and to restore marine life and environment over the next few years. Initially, Mauritius demanded 34 million dollars for this.
• 3000 individual requests were also aided by the company

The ship had run aground in July last year and an oil leak in August spilt 1000 tons of oil into the ocean. The oil spill had turned the coastline black and damaged crucial mangrove and coral reefs. Around 50 dolphins, whales and numerous other marine creatures washed up dead after the oil spill.

Not only that, the tourism-dependent country was economically hit by it as the oil spill further deteriorated tourism prospect of Mauritius amidst a raging global pandemic.

The locals worked for weeks to clear the oil spill but it wasn’t enough. Even naval ships and military aircraft were deployed from France to clean up the oil spill.