Shell Denies Complicity in Dead Fishes on Sea Shore

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has denied responsibility in the death of fishes found littered on the shores of the Niger Delta.

Since middle of March this year, residents of the coastal communities in the region had reported sighting dead fishes floating out from the Atlantic Ocean to the shores. The reports were made from the coastlines of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, and they involved a certain species of fish locally called croaker.

But SPDC said it did not discharge toxic chemicals from its operations at the Forcados crude oil export terminal as alleged by an environmental activist.

The environmentalist, Mr. Furoebi Akene, had alleged that the dead fishes littering the Niger Delta coastline were caused by the discharge of toxic chemicals from Shell operations at Ogulagha in Delta State.

A statement signed by the Media Relations Manager at SPDC, Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan, said there was no oil leakage from its activities linked to the dead fishes.

Odugbesan said the company was collaborating with the Delta State Government in investigating the cause of the massive death of fishes and is also participating in the ongoing joint investigation by oil industry regulators on the matter.

“The SPDC hereby clarifies that there was no release of dangerous, toxic or chemical substances from its operations at the Forcados oil terminal or from its facilities in Ogulagha or any part of the Niger Delta where the company operates.

“Relevant government agencies are already investigating the incident along the coastline in the Niger Delta, and SPDC is supporting the investigations.

“The Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was widely reported to have clearly stated that there is no evidence that oil and gas operations may have impacted the aquatic environment as being claimed in respect to the death of the fishes.

“On our part, we are working with the relevant government agencies and the Delta State Ministry of Environment in the investigation of the allegation.

“We have conducted a joint investigation visit to the coastline, collected samples, and testing is ongoing in accredited laboratories,” Odugbesan stated.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of NOSDRA, Mr. Idris Musa, has said the agency found no connection with oil spills to the dead fishes and was looking at other probable causes.

Musa said NOSDRA was coordinating a multi-agency investigation aimed at unraveling the cause of the massive death of fishes within the country’s territorial waters and was looking beyond oil spill.

“The death of fishes in large numbers makes it expedient to look beyond oil spillage as the likely cause, as we found no trace of oil leakage to the dead fishes.

“The agency proceeded to collect samples of water, sediments and some of the dead fishes for laboratory testing.

”In doing so, the agency brought onboard other relevant agencies of the government that have mandate on our territorial waters.

“In particular, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Federal Institute of Fisheries Research and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) are the agencies,” he said.