Hunt on for crew after sea dumping

The crew aboard a vessel responsible for dumping several hydrochloric acid drums in the sea near the Bremer Canyon could face up to 10 years imprisonment and $420,000 in fines, the Department of Environment and Energy says.

As reported by the Albany Advertiser, four drums which once contained highly corrosive hydrochloric acid were found near the world-renowned biodiversity hotspot last week.

Researcher Rebecca Wellard reported the find to authorities and described it as an appalling act.

“I have never seen waste disregarded and disposed of like that,” she said.

“Every vessel out there on the ocean not only has to meet legal requirements but has a duty of care.”

Although the vessel responsible is yet to identified, in a statement provided to the Albany Advertiser by the Department of Environment and Energy, the dumping of the hydrochloric acid drums could constitute an offence under the Sea Dumping Act.

“Without further information about this particular incident, it is difficult to determine what impact the hydrochloric acid barrels would have on the marine environment,” the statement read.

“However, significant penalties apply to the dumping of materials that are proved to be seriously harmful, including up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $420,000.”

According to the department, all options must be considered before the dumping of material.

Ms Wellard is a Curtin Uni-versity PhD student and has been studying the acoustics and pop-ulation dynamics of killer whales at the Bremer sub-basin since 2014.

“We have polluted the ocean enough and don’t need to add any more stresses to the marine environment,” she said.