Public warning to all fishermen and mariners of the Gulf of Paria

Date: October 16th 2017

Dear Editor/Newsroom,

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) hereby warn all seafarers and fisher-folk from the Cocorite, Charlieville, Felicity, Brick Field, Orange Valley, Carli Bay and Claxton Bay to exercise caution and be on the lookout for very large volumes of this thick black oil.

On Saturday 14th October 2017, a massive oil spill occurred with thick black oil spreading along the southern side of the entire north-western peninsula of Trinidad in the vicinity of Five Islands, Carrera Island, Constrat Island and Gasparee Island. The initial area covered in oil appears to be much larger than the city of Port of Spain but, un-contained, it is spreading every second. There is still no clean-up or containment efforts.

FFOS have today received fresh reports that the sea of oil is heading in a south easterly direction in Gulf of Paria and has already arrived just outside Cocorite. The oil now stretches from Scotland Bay to Cocorite.

Mariners are asked to call FFOS (355-7672) to report any and all sightings of oil and to call the EMA’s emergency hotline (680-9588) which no one answers.

FFOS is calling out all fisherfolk from the Gulf of Paria but particularly from the northwestern peninsula communities of Cocorite, Sea Lots, Carenage and Chaguaramas, to attend an emergency mobilisation meeting to be held on Wednesday 18th October, 2017 at 4:30 pm at the Cocorite Fishing Depot.

Our fisher-folk must be compensated.

Sincerely,

Gary Aboud

Corporate Secretary