A chemical spill from an ethanol distillery has put one of the Philippines’ largest marine protected areas at risk. A wall retaining the wastewater pond of an ethanol distillery plant collapsed on Oct. 24, causing about 255,000 cubic meters (67 million gallons) of wastewater to flow into Bais Bay in the central Philippines, according to the Bais City government. The plant is owned by Philippine food and beverage conglomerate Universal Robina Corporation (URC). Bais Bay is part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), a narrow body of water between the islands of Negros and Cebu. The strait is home to about 14 species of whales and dolphins, including the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). The strait also supports diverse habitats, including mangrove forests and coral reefs, and is an important fishing ground and tourist attraction. “[T]he beauty, bounty, and ecological integrity of Tañon Strait is under active threat of being adversely impacted by this negligent act,” marine conservation nonprofit Oceana said in a statement. “The spill can affect the nutrient cycling and food web stability of the protected area, and cause long-lasting damage to its benthic habitats, coral reefs, and seagrass beds, impacting fish and invertebrate populations.” According to authorities, preliminary assessments suggest there was “visible discoloration across North Bais Bay, posing significant risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and local livelihoods,” the Manilla Bulletin reported. Satellite images of the chemical spill in Bais Bay. Images courtesy of Sentinel-2L2A. Following the spill, Bais City’s…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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