MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck hits water quality, marine life

Kochi: An ecological assessment of the MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck off the Kochi coast of the Arabian Sea found that it affected water quality, plankton, benthos, fish eggs and larvae and higher marine life. The report by scientists of the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), ministry of earth sciences, says that the persistence of oil even after several days, despite prevailing turbulence and current flows, highlighted the risk of continued leakage.The research cruise onboard FORV Sagar Sampada was carried out from June 2 to 12, covering 23 sampling locations between Kochi and Kanyakumari, with closer observations near the wreck site.During the initial surveys, an oil slick extending over nearly 5 sq km was clearly visible around the wreck site and the chemical analysis confirmed the presence of petroleum-derived pollutants at elevated levels. Under the prevailing calm sea conditions, these pollutants tended to concentrate more at mid-depths while the surface appeared with a thin oil film. When the site was revisited, however, the distribution pattern changed, with higher concentrations observed at the surface and reduced levels at depth.Analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon fractions revealed the presence of compounds such as naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene. Higher concentrations of trace metals commonly associated with petroleum, including nickel, lead, copper and vanadium, were detected in both water and sediments near the site. The biological impacts of the spill were evident across multiple levels of the ecosystem. Zooplankton, which forms the base of the marine food chain, was found to contain high levels of petroleum-derived pollutants.The impact on early life stages of fish was particularly alarming, as this period coincided with the Southwest Monsoon season, which is critical for spawning and recruitment of many commercially important species in the eastern Arabian Sea. A large number of fish eggs and larvae collected from the affected area showed signs of decay, suggesting possible mortality linked to oil exposure during this vulnerable stage. On the seafloor, benthic organisms showed clear signs of ecological stress. Sensitive species declined sharply within days of the incident, leaving behind only pollution-tolerant worms and bivalves. This shift indicates acute disturbance of the seabed, with potential long-term consequences for sediment health and fisheries habitats.Microbial studies of water samples revealed a rich and diverse bacterial community near the wreck site, including several hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria such as Neptunomonas acidivorans, Halomonas tabrizica and Acinetobacter baumannii. Visible impacts extended to higher marine fauna as well. A Brown Noddy seabird (Anous stolidus) was observed taking prolonged shelter on the wreck, repeatedly preening its feathers, a typical behavioural response to oil contamination of plumage. Such incidents point towards the vulnerability of marine birds and higher organisms in the vicinity of the spill.