The Central Board of Health, Ministry of Health Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs in collaboration with the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Blue Economy advises all residents, fisherfolk, and seafood vendors not to harvest, consume, or sell fish and shellfish taken from the cove west of Cook’s Landfill, in the vicinity of Hermitage Bay.
On Thursday, 12 February 2026, at approximately 8:38 a.m., Antigua Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard (ABDF CG)received reports of an oil sheen in the waters at Hermitage Bay, extending in the direction of Pelican Point. The Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force Coast Guard and a team from the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) immediately responded and conducted on-site assessments, while landside assessments were conducted by Central Board of Health.
Preliminary findings indicate that the material observed on the water is a surface sheen consistent with petroleum-basedcontamination. While the sheen is not recoverable and is expected to dissipate over time, investigations suggest that the possible source may be seepage from the Cook’s Landfill area. The exact origin remains under investigation.
Although current meteorological and marine assessments indicate that wind and wave action are moving the material away from the shoreline, there remains a potential risk to marine life within the affected cove area. As a precautionary public health measure, residents are strongly advised:
• Do not fish in the cove west of Cook’s Dump (in the vicinity of Hermitage Bay).
• Do not collect or consume fish, shellfish, or other marine life from this area.
• Do not sell or distribute seafood harvested from the affected waters.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has been partially activated, and members of the Marine Pollution Plan Executive Committee, including the Environment Division, Fisheries Division, Port Authority, APUA, and other key agencies are engaged and monitoring the situation closely.
The Coast Guard remains on site, and aerial assessments have been conducted to assist with determining the extent of the seepage. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
The public is urged to comply fully with this advisory, which has been issued in accordance with established public health and marine response protocols, in the interest of health and safety. Anyone observing unusual marine conditions or petroleum-based residue in the area is encouraged to report it immediately to the Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard via telephone at 1(268)462-0671/1(268)462-2843/1(268)462-3206/1(268)462-2841.
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Thought you all had claimed at first that it was illegally dumped.
#CHAMIL_NET FU PULL SEINE…
A…can the authorities tell how long, this alleged, illegal dumping has being happening?
B…isn’t the landfill site, properly fenced with reinforced SUPER SILT FENCE around the entire perimeter?
A few things to consider…
(i)…the old composted materials should form hills to create a bowl which drains into leaching fields swailed into wetlands/marshes.
(ii)…outside of cackle/clams, dice, mussels, sea urchins, sea-beef, conch etc, most fish only swarm/shoal run into these wetlands to spawn and such is controlled by the moon cycles, water temperature. Schools of fishes like hind, grouper, snapper, mullet etc will return to deeper waters after spawning, hence, the reason why fisherfolk’s set their pots/traps further out to sea.
Management definitely has to be more proactive, rather than reactive, in particular when it comes to such areas as landfills, their containment and runoffs.
Now, while the EPA, NODS, the other agencies responsible for the environment are REACTING to this alleged, illegal dumping when are they going to address such things as…
1…hotels and other large scale developments, mega yachts and the discharging of grey water and possibly raw/recycled sewage directly into the sea?
2…the #WHITE_ELEPHANT in the room which are SUNTAN LOTIONS & SUNSCREENS which are dumped into our seas and ocean across the Caribbean by the thousands of tons and have done irreparable damages to our coral reefs and other marine life?
Of course, manufacturers of these highly toxic products are claiming to be using more eco-friendly chemicals to avoid the continued damages and dangers to our eco-system, but who’re are actually monitoring such situations?
Maybe the next time Gaston Browne have Eli Fuller on his Browne & Browne Show, INDEPENDENT REPORTERS can put these questions to the panel.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾 Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
In a time like today we don’t have the technology to check the source of where the oil comes from?
Also why can’t they remove the oil sheen on the water? That would help in identifying the oil source.
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