Bonn, 14 November 2007 - On Sunday a severe storm snapped at least four freighters and an oil tanker on the Sea of Azov, near the Black Sea. Three of the freighters were carrying sulphur and together with the oil spilt by the tanker it led to so much pollution that one Russian official has called it an “environmental disaster”. 2,000 tons already ran into the sea and at least 30,000 birds have died and thousands more are covered in oil.

The fuel oil has leaked into the Kerch Strait which passes between the Sea Azov and the Black Sea. Two Important Bird Areas (IBA), the Kiziltash Bay and the Tamanski and Dinskiy Bays are at the heart of the migration route from central Siberia into the Black Sea and both are designated primarily for migrating and wintering birds. Up to 50,000 migratory waterfowl and other birds are known to use the sites during their migration. BirdLife International reported that the main affected species are Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Coot (Fulica atra), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis).

All mentioned bird species are protected by AEWA (Status: ranges from Column B, Category 1¹ (Black-necked Grebe) and Column C, Category 1² (Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Great Cormorant)). Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary of AEWA, has expressed his concern about the impact of this oil spill and warns that it might have a detrimental effect on the conservation status of the affected species.“ The affected area is a very important corridor for migrating birds and this environmental catastrophe compounds the many problems these migratory species are already facing”, said Mr. Lenten.

Currently, it is impossible to undertake large-scale rescue operations to avoid even more damage due to bad weather conditions.

For more information please see:

- BirdLife International Press Release
- Wetlands International Press Release

Possibly affected waterbirds covered by the Agreement:

Relevant Guidelines & Resolutions

	AEWA Guidelines on identifying and tackling emergency situations for migratory waterbirds (pp 21-36) [ full document ]
	UNEP/CMS Resolution on oil pollution and migratory species (COP7 Res 7.3)

General Information on how oil pollution threatens birds

	From the Canadian Wildlife Service & Canadian Wildlife Federation
	From the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

¹:Column B, Category 1: Populations numbering between around 25,000 and around 100,000 individuals and which do not fulfill the conditions in respect of column A.

²: Column C, Category 1: Populations numbering more than around 100,000 individuals which could significantly benefit from international cooperation and which do not fulfill theconditions in respect of either column A or column B.