Air and sea surveillance found no trace of oil sheen or patches near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef after a reported sighting by fisherman on Friday.
Checks of the foreshore for any oil or affected wildlife will be maintained during the next week, Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads said Sunday in an e-mailed statement. Samples taken from transiting ships will be analyzed and a joint investigation between Australian agencies will continue, the department said.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,600 types of fish and is navigated daily by vessels including liquefied natural gas tankers and coal ships that service some of the 12 trading ports on the Queensland coast. Maritime Safety Queensland on Friday confirmed the reported sighting by the fishermen of the patches of oily water south of Townsville.
A Chinese-registered bulk carrier ploughed into the reef in April 2010, severely damaging or destroying an area covering 115,000 square meters. The UNESCO-protected site is the largest living structure on the planet.