Ecological disaster: an oil spill paralyzes the “city of surfing” in the United States.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif .– The popular Huntington Beach, California, is known as “The city of surfing”, but one Oil spill pollutes its waters and affecting not only its marine life, but also the local economy and way of life.

“It is very rare not to see surfers here for miles”explains Shawna Sakal, manager of a surf shop a few meters from the pier in this popular American tourist destination. “There are always people surfing, all year round”.

The authorities believe that a leak in an oil pipeline operated by the Amplify Energy company in the region can overthrow 500,000 liters of oil overboard, in the worst case. The surveys analyze whether an anchor struck the pipeline which was moved approximately 32 meters, which could have caused the spill.

Los Angeles and Long Beach are among the busiest ports in the world. Dozens of container ships had to park offshore while waiting to dock, due to traffic jams caused by the pandemic. The boats, visible from the beach, are given coordinates to anchor in safe places.

“Not even during the pandemic”

After detecting the spill over the weekend, the coast has been declared closed, one of the best for surfing in the United States. Tourists and surfers were replaced in the sand by cleaning crews in special bulky suits, modifying the traditional local postcard.

Sakal points to the beach, now completely deserted, and says that the city and the beach are never so empty. “Not even during the pandemic. They tried to stop the surfers, but they always went to the waves, they didn’t care ”.

“This accident has led to a horrible situation and it bothers me”says Zack Lyons, who claims he learned to surf before he walked. Without being able to enter the sea, this tall, blond and tanned young man compensates by working more hours in one of the many sports shops in the neighborhood. “Life now is making more money and surfing less”he said, laughing wryly.

Her friend, Jake McNerney, 18, is used to seeing windy conditions and waves barely opening your eyes in the morning. “We don’t even write to each other, we always see each other on the beach”, dice.

Firm

Beach closures don’t just affect surfers. This Wednesday, a sunny day, with a blue sky, few people walked on the pier which stretches for several meters from the sand. The shops and restaurants near the beach were almost empty. Surf schools have been closed.

“We’ve probably lost 50% of sales so far”explains Shawna Sakal, whose father has been selling self-made boards for five decades in this family store. “October is the best month for surfers and locals. The weather is great, a lot of people come to the beach on weekends, but now they can’t because of this spill,” he says.

Connor Waldrin works in a surf rental shop where they typically see five to ten customers a day on weekdays. “And now, nothing,” he laments.

Schools, which see sport as an important part of the curriculum, have also had to adapt their routines. “We had just started our racing season before the spill”says Lisa Battig of Fountain Valley School, located minutes from the beach. “We will do alternative workouts and find a way to surf outside the affected area,” he explained.

The competitions of the week have been canceled. Along the coastline there are more diez ships trying to remove oil from the water. Until wednesday nearly 23,000 liters were collected. Some 13 birds were rescued covered in oil.

Sakal, who doesn’t surf but walks the beach every day before work, doesn’t think he’ll be back anytime soon. “We hope they will open soon, but there is no way to find out ”.

AFP Agency