Divers of Primorye Made an Ecological Dive in the Golden Horn Bay

The team of the underwater research section of the Primorsky Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the Society for the Study of the Amur Region, investigated the Golden Horn Bay as part of a new environmental project.

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Фото: Алексей Кондратюк
Фото: Алексей Кондратюк

“The ecological situation of the Golden Horn’s shipping bay leaves much to be desired”, says Alexey Kondratyuk, the Chairman of the Underwater Research Section of the Primorsky Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, Society for the Study of the Amur Region. “The slick of petroleum products on the surface of the bay is a great danger to the inhabitants of the bay... A composition of this "vigorous chemistry" is able to dissolve latex parts on a diving suit for a month. What is happening in the stomachs of seabirds?"

 

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Фото: Алексей Кондратюк
Фото: Алексей Кондратюк

Spent fuel was thrown off to the bottom of the bay during the entire period of the port’s existence.

"This "sandwich" with impurities of heavy metals and petroleum products today is a time bomb. The sea gradually covered it with a kind of "sarcophagus" consisting of billions of living organisms, - adds Alexey Kondratyuk. - If you start global cleaning, you can significantly damage the territory's ecosystem".

 

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Фото: Алексей Кондратюк
Фото: Алексей Кондратюк

According to divers, the only thing that can be done is to carry out only surface cleaning, removing tires, bags, plastic, glass. Such assistance will significantly improve the current situation and slow down the process of pollution of the bay.

 

Primorsky Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the Society for the Study of the Amur Region, is developing a project to install artificial reefs. Coastal divers will assess the ecological status of the bottom of various bays and bays of the Sea of Japan during the work on it. Explorings are planned to be conducted in collaboration with representatives of various scientific organizations in the region.

Photo: Alexey Condratyuk