Interview with Igor Chestin

Ecologists fear the oil spills in the Kerch Strait, between Russia and Ukraine, may pollute the area for five years. Igor Chestin, Head of Russian WWF Department, discussed the situation with RT. 

The World WIldlife Fund representative says the clean-up operation will be more difficult, if the oil sinks to the seabed.

“That, of course, is a pretty undesirable situation. Unfortunately, these are the heavy fractions of oil – mazut – which is heavier than water, so it actually sinks. And the one on the shore can be cleaned but the one which is on the sea bottom is a lot more difficult to get rid off. And because of the storm, most oil is still staying on the water face. But when the storm will go down it will settle on the bottom in probably quite a large area. Many birds are already affected very seriously. For this time of the year there are about 30,000 migrating birds concentrated in the area. That's a potential damage to the bird's population, but hopefully not all of them will die,” Igor Chestin said.