Marine environmental issues in Lebanon

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A variety of factors affect the water and marine life along the coastline of Lebanon. These factors include

The Jiyeh power station oil spill is an environmental disaster that occurred July 13 - July 16 during the

There were many longer lasting ecological effects to both marine life and humans due to the oil spill. Since there was a slow clean up response, the heavier crude oil to sank to the bottom, killing the marine life below that many on the coast rely on. Tourist beaches were also covered in oil slick for months after the spill.[2]

Oil pollution from ships

According to an ITOPF study, 91% of the operational oil spills are small, resulting in less than 7 metric tons per spill.^[4] Lebanese public opinion and Lebanese authorities do not react to these minor spills occurring by the merchant ships calling the Lebanese ports. Being without inspection, and discharging close to the shore, oil Tankers are polluting the coast of Amsheet, Beirut, Jieh,^[5] Tripoli, Zahrani and Zouk. These pollutions have a direct effect on the marine life in these regions. Also, big cargo ships coming to Lebanon transport the equivalent oil volume of small tankers, and are polluting essentially from their machinery space. See Marpol Annex I.^{[citation needed]}

Ballast water discharge

Sewage management is a major issue within Lebanon. It is not uncommon for homes or building to dispose of their waste into natural water ways or man made waste pools. For example, in 2016 only 58.5% of buildings in Lebanon were connected to the sewer system. The other 41.5% of buildings used septic tanks, waste pools, or natural water sources(streams, rivers, lakes, etc) to dispose of their sewage.[6] This is a major issue within the country as poor water quality has been linked to around 80% of all diseases.^[6] Along with this, it is not uncommon for sewage coming from the Buildings on the coast to flow straight into the Mediterranean without any treatment, polluting marine life and beaches.

Another sewage issue is the sewage pollution of ships. Since many merchant navy vessels are not inspected, they do not respect the Marpol 73/78 annex IV which controls pollution of the sea by sewage from ships.^{[citation needed]}

A study conducted on the major rivers in Lebanon in 2021 found fecal fecal coliform in 96% percent of the samples taken throughout the study. The results of this study highlighted the need for proper waste management and water treatment facilities in Lebanon.^[6]

Sea dumping

Sea dumping is a major contributor to the pollution of water in Lebanon. Sea dumping refers to the practice of disposing waste or debris into the ocean or along the coastline of a body of water. This practice has numerous negative effects on the health of the environment, marine life and humans in the area. Beirut, Lebanon and its suburbs produce around 3,000 tons of trash a day alone and despite being the capital of Lebanon, is often covered with trash.^[7] Another serious issue to the Lebanese marine environment is the dumping of rubbish from lorries as well as from ships. There have been a number of cases, particularly involving Sukleen, dumping its waste (including radioactive waste and hazardous medical waste) in the vicinity of the Karantina region.^[8] There are also many waste disposal locations on the Lebanese coast especially near Saida port, Bourj Hammoud, Normandie and Tripoli.^[9] In addition many cattle carriers dump their animal cadavers in the Lebanese territorial waters. See Marpol 73/78 annex V.^{[citation needed]}

Land Reclamation

Along the coastline of Lebanon, there are large mounds of trash that extend hundreds of feet out in the Mediterranean sea. Along these mounds of trash, trucks are constantly dumping and layering on more waste.^[7] This process is called land reclamation and is the process of adding on to the pre-existing coastline. ^[10]

Since 2015, Lebanon has been in a perpetual garbage crisis. The crisis began with the overflow of one of Lebanon’s main landfills, the Naameh landfill, and a lack of contingency plan by the government. The dumping and burning of trash in the streets became very common and ultimately led to protests in many cities throughout the country. Due to their lack of a solution, the government began the process of “land reclamation” and began the dumping of their trash on the coastlines and in the ocean in order to extend their coastline out to sea.^[7][11]

Noxious liquid substances spills

According to CNRS surveys, The Chekka sea area is polluted by Noxious chemical substances (Sulfuric acid, Phosphoric acid...). These Noxious liquid substances spills occur essentially during the Loading/discharging operations at the Sellaata chemical Terminal near Chekka.^[12] See Marpol 73/78 annex II.

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