by Playfuls Staff |
8th January 2007
Dozens of seabirds have been washed up along the northern Dutch coast over recent days, victims of a yellow-green substance assumed to have been discharged by a ship at sea, [more] conservation authorities said Monday.
The birds were found between Den Helder and Petten in the province of North Holland. Patches of the substance have been found along a 40-kilometre stretch of beach and on the beaches of the popular holiday resort island of Texel.
The conservation body Stichting Noordzee said the substance appeared to be highly corrosive. An investigation was underway to ascertain precisely what it was, spokesman Floris Groenendijk said.
He advised members of the public against picking up the dead birds.
Groenendijk said occurrences of illegal discharging of waste at sea were more common at this time of year.
© 2007 DPA
