THE Department of the Marine does not know what caused the oil spillage in Dublin Bay which has killed or injured about 200 sea birds, but believes it came from "a passing vessel".
The injured birds are being washed and are being treated in clinics in Dun Laoghaire, Bray and Greystones. Other veterinary clinics will open today in Clontarf and Wicklow town.
Mr Peter Wedderburn, who runs a veterinary clinic in Bray, said about 70 birds were brought in to him for treatment. "I have never seen anything like it. The spillage had a terrible effect."
The Department said the spillage was not as serious as first thought and that the oil had substantially dispersed last night. Most of what had initially been thought to be oil was in fact algae around Sandymount and Blackrock. The local authorities and the Department will continue to monitor the situation.
Representatives of the Marine Emergency Service, the harbour authorities and Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council met yesterday to draw up contingency plans. Later, helicopter surveys showed that the spillage was not a large one. Local authorities reported small quantities of oil and tar balls in the Dun Laoghaire coal harbour and in Bullock and Coliemore harbours.
Last evening oiled birds were being picked up as far south as Wicklow town. Ms Brid Bhreathnach of the Veterinary Hospital, Dun Laoghaire said: "We have received between 30 and 40 oiled birds since morning. Some of them are in a bad way. They are completely covered in oil. It will be days before we know how many are going to survive. We could lose half or more of them. They seem to have come from the Dalkey/Killiney areas. The birds are floating in and trying to get on to the beaches.
Despite the casualties, there was no oil visible at Killiney or White Rock beaches yesterday afternoon when The Irish Times visited the area. The areas were full of visitors sitting out in the sun or even swimming. Dogs were also going in and out of the water. The water looked bright and clear, reflecting the blue sky. The only dark substance was seaweed.
Even at White Rock, where Andrew and Ashling Birbeck of Sorrento Road, Dalkey, found a young seabird in distress and covered in oil at 2.30 p.m, there was no sign of oil.
The Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, and the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmore, described the incident as outrageous, irresponsible, and unacceptable. The Green Party strongly condemned those who caused the oil pollution and called on the Government to impose the harshest possible penalties on the culprits. Dublin city councillor Mr John Gormley said it was an act of environmental vandalism".