On the beach of Šventoji, they noticed blackheads: environmentalists reassure

On Wednesday, black spots were noticed on Šventoji beach along the shoreline. The photo was published in the Facebook group “Mūsų Palanga”.

The mayor of the resort, Šarūnas Vaitkus, immediately reacted to it. He informed the company “Palanga Komunalinis ūkis” regarding the situation. He soon added that the black spots on the sand were not oil. Samples taken. A more detailed study will show the composition of the soil.

As Gediminas Valinevičius, the manager of “Palanga communal farm”, said, the samples taken resembled peat or some other organic matter. “No, definitely not oil,” he said.

AAD photo/Pollution in the Baltic Sea

How 15min commented Vidmantas Tilvikas, head of the Marine Environmental Protection Inspectorate, Šventoji beach often seems to be painted in other colors: black, red. And this happens due to natural phenomena: sea waves wash the soil of different colors.

More than a week ago, an accident was recorded in Būtinge, during which several hundred liters of oil spilled into the sea. However, as stated by V. Tilvik, an accurate investigation will show how much pollution was spilled. It is scheduled to be completed in March.

“We collected some, some scattered to the Latvian side, some drowned. However, even on the beaches of Latvia, oil has not been observed. Therefore, it really cannot be in Šventoja”, said V. Tilvikas.