P732 CJJFAX 732 Sun 3 Mar 20:31/25 1/2 O T APPEAL TO GULF STBTJS ON SHIPPING LANES The UN has urged the Gulf states to introduce tighter environmental checks to cut pollution in sea lanes which carry half the world's oil exports. UN shipping watchdog the International Maritime Organisation said protecting the marine environment was costly but not protecting it would cost more. Speaking at a conference on Gulf marine pollution, the IMO's Hemming Brathaug said if fish died out the effect on local economies could bj djvasting. The IMO would like all the Gulf States to sign a pollution accord. Next Page Diary CmntyJnfo ReligionP732 CJJFAX 732 Sun 3 Mar 20:34/20 2/2 O T APPEAL TO GULF STBTJS ON SHIPPING LANES Many Gulf States have balked at the cost of bringing in technology to cut pollution, despite the threat of contaminbtion from oil spills. Only Ombn and the United Arab Emirates have built facilities to cut pollution and environmentalists have suggested that complacency is the main problem. Environmentalists say the Gulf is polluted by 1.14 million tonnes of oil a year, 40) of it from the the 6,000 tankers which use the Gulf every year. The IMO has offered to help countries improve their facilities. %,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Next Page Diary CmntyJnfo Religion