Immediate Socioeconomic Impacts of Mindoro Oil Spill on Fisherfolk of Naujan, Philippines

Abstract

In February 2023, an oil tanker carrying 5660 bbl of industrial fuel oil sank off Naujan in the Philippines, causing an oil spill in the waters of Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces. The disaster affected fishing communities as well as marine ecosystems including the Verde Island Passage, which is at the “center of the world’s marine biodiversity”. This study assessed the immediate social and economic impacts of this oil spill on various communities of the Naujan coast. We conducted semi-structured interviews and employed a narrative analysis to explore the lived experiences of fisherfolk after the oil spill and to understand the socioeconomic impacts. With the prohibition of fishing and other aquatic activities, the participants lost up to USD 1300 of income per week from fishing. The participants had no other source of income due to the lack of other skills or an opportunity for an alternative livelihood in the community. While the government provided food packs and financial assistance, the participants found these insufficient to sustain their basic family needs including food, utilities, education, and health. Traces of oil were also found in the sources of potable water affecting their daily household activities. The fisherfolk, who live in communities that are vulnerable to natural and human-made hazards, had their subsistence, food security, and human well-being highly compromised. The findings provided recommendations for government interventions to mitigate the impacts of an oil spill and other future disasters, considering social, economic, and human ecological perspectives.

Diesel to Solar Irrigation System: Economic, Environmental, and Social Acceptability Analyses by Small-Scale Farmers of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

“…This is followed by the narratives of small-scale farmers that support their choice of technology. Narrative analysis was used to interpret the detailed lived experiences obtained from the interviews of farmers, which sought to preserve the integrity of their personal experiences that cannot adequately be understood in terms of their discrete values [19].…”

Bioremediation of Oil Spills: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Prospects

“…The tanker, MT Princess Empress which carried 800,000 liters of oil, sank near Naujan, Oriental Mindoro last February 2023. The oil spill quickly spread to different areas from Batangas in the North to Antique in the South (Agaton et al, 2023). Marine oil spills directly hinder the exchange of O2 and CO2 resulting in the depletion of oxygen and the alteration of the chemistry of the seawater.…”

Treatment of Oily Effluents Using a Bacterial Cellulose Membrane as the Filter Bed

“…Pollution from the oil industry has always caused short-, medium-, and long-term environmental impacts, such as the contamination of water, air, and soil, with adverse effects on both fauna and flora [1][2][3][4][5], as well as economic impacts, mainly affecting fisheries, tourism, and coastal areas. All complications generated by the oil industry can be mitigated by a combination of rigorous regulations, advances in clean technologies, and a global commitment to the transition to renewable energy sources [6,7].…”