The oil slick caused last summer by Israeli bombardment of the Jiyeh power station was the principal source of concern for Lebanese swimmers this year. However, in spite of persisting visible traces of oil slick on certain coastal shores, the bacteriological pollution resulting from raw sewers poured in the sea, remains the most dangerous health threat. Thus, fuel residues are a source of disturbance more than an actual health threat as confirmed by the latest studies undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, as well as by tests carried out by the Marine Research Center of the National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR) and by the environmental hotline of the “Al Bi’a Wal Tanmia” magazine (“Environment and development”). According to the last two sources, bacteriological pollution, which remains ubiquitous on the littoral with varying rates depending on the area, exceeds the limits on the coasts of Dbayé-Antélias, Ramlet el-Bayda and Manara (Beirut).

In general, private beaches are in better condition than public beaches. However, according to the Marine Research Center, although fish remain safe for human consumption (contrary to animals known as “filterers”, namely sea urchins and mussels), the oil slick has had disastrous effects on tens of marine species, affecting in particular many micro-organisms. Monthly tests are still being conducted.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment has announced the beginning of phase two for cleaning the oil slick: the best results having been obtained through collecting the fuel in the water, the most challenging step remains that of cleaning the rocks. Criticized for the delay in resolving the problem of fuel and that of the polluted waste collected and often abandoned on beaches, the Ministry announced its will to safely store them till they can be exported for treatment. A solution far from being convincing, in particular in the opinion of ecologists who confirm that this waste, being “not dangerous”, can be locally treated.