Report
Venezuela: Lake Maracaibo, a veritable ecosystem victim of catastrophic pollution
In Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo, connected to the Caribbean Sea, is in a state of permanent oil spill due to oil leaks. It is the largest lake in Latin America. It is home to an exceptional fauna and flora, including several dozen endemic species. This situation has been going on since the 1980s, but has worsened significantly since 2016.
A wave of oil on one of the shores of Lake Maracaibo, in the La Vereda neighborhood, after an oil spill in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela, June 21, 2023. © Luis Bravo / AFP
By: Alice Campaignolle Follow
Advertising
Read More
From our correspondent,
Lake Maracaibo is now experiencing a real ecological disaster. First of all, it is difficult to give exact figures. The government does not communicate, but researchers estimate, thanks to satellite images, that about 160,000 litres of crude oil per day would be spilled into the lake and its shores. Lake Maracaibo is one of the most hydrocarbon-rich areas in the country. There are about 6,000 oil wells, around and on the lake. And thousands of miles of undersea pipelines to transport that crude. But this infrastructure has not been maintained, not only because of the serious crisis in the country, but also because of corruption and mismanagement in general.
A permanent oil spill
The consequences are disastrous, for the inhabitants, for the mangroves on site and for the fauna obviously, such as sharks, dolphins, but also turtles etc. For example, "verdin", as it is called in Venezuela, is a microalgae that feeds on all the waste dumped into the lake – hydrocarbons, but also solid waste and sewage that is discharged into it. This green algae has sometimes covered almost the entire lake, preventing the passage of oxygen and light and therefore causing a lot of damage to the fauna and flora.
Heavy metal levels are also very high in fish, which the locals feed on. In addition, people who made their living from the lake by offering water activities, for example, had to turn to other sources of income.
Saving the Lake
For a long time, the state has been conspicuous by its lack of reaction, as has the state-owned oil company PDVSA, which is in charge of infrastructure, including the 28,000 kilometres of undersea pipelines that crisscross the lake. There are many initiatives by associations. There are those who are in charge of monitoring oil spills. There are organizations that focus on animals, as some, such as the manatee, are endangered.
One of the latest proposals for the lake is the Mermaid project. Hairdressers across the country harvest cut hair that is then reused, with floats, to capture the layers of oil in the water. Despite all the good intentions, without stopping the leaks and therefore concretely, without plugging the pipes, all initiatives are in vain. This summer, the government announced a plan to "reclaim the lake." And activists want to believe in working hand in hand with the authorities to save Lake Maracaibo from all its sources of pollution.
Listen alsoVenezuela-Guyana: Could the crisis escalate into conflict?
NewsletterGet all the latest international news straight to your inbox
Subscribe now
Keep up to date with all the latest international news by downloading the RFI app
Share:
Most read
1
11/12/2023
Burkina Faso: Junta leader Ibrahim Traoré announces escalation of war on terror
2
12/12/2023
UN General Assembly calls for 'humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza
3
11/12/2023