Ecologist worried damaged boat could pollute sensitive rock platform

A sensitive intertidal ecosystem in northern New South Wales faces potential harm following the salvage of a vessel that ran aground at Flat Rock earlier this week. Aquatic ecologist Brendan Cox voiced his concerns, highlighting the delicate nature of the rock platform, which is home to coral, aquatic life, and shellfish.

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It's full of coral and aquatic life and shellfish.

The 12-meter fiberglass vessel, named The Victoria, ran aground at dusk on Tuesday. Two men aboard activated their emergency beacon and were rescued, sustaining minor injuries. NSW Maritime oversaw a salvage operation on Friday, employing two 30-tonne excavators to drag the damaged hull across the rocks to the beach. The operation was conducted against the clock due to anticipated rising swell conditions over the weekend.

Senior boating safety officer Bret Ryan stated that the hull's damage prevented refloating, necessitating the drag operation. He emphasized that pollution control and the area's environmental and cultural significance were considered. "Every endeavor has been made to minimize that drag effect that would potentially break that hull up further," Ryan said, acknowledging the increased environmental risks when the fiberglass hull breaks apart.

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Those intertidal ecosystems developed around being exposed to air some of the time and underwater some of the time so any kind of disturbance outside of that can really have an impact.

Cox warned that even small amounts of pollution, debris, or fiberglass fragments could significantly impact the organisms in the rock pools, especially since water movement is limited, potentially trapping pollutants. The salvage operation drew onlookers, with one amateur photographer, Markus Pache, reportedly raising funds for the boat's skipper, who was also living on the vessel.

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When that happens, there is obviously more potential risks to the environment.