Abu Dhabi: A tar-like black substance has once again washed up on Saadiyat Public Beach in the capital, environmental officials confirmed today (February 15).

The beaches have, however, been cleaned up since the reports were received by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), the emirate’s environmental regulator, and are now open to residents.

In a statement sent to Gulf News, the EAD said that it was informed about the beachside pollution yesterday (February 14).

“An environmental emergency team immediately visited the site and conducted an initial environmental assessment confirming the occurrence of a minor tar-like substance contaminating the shoreline. Furthermore, EAD collected water samples for analysis,” the statement said.

After a full investigation into the incident was completed, officials determined that “the most probably identified source of this incident was a discharge of ballast water from an unknown vessel”. Ballast water, which is held in the tanks and cargo holds of ships to increase stability, can contain a variety of biological materials that may include non-native or exotic species. These materials may cause ecological harm to aquatic ecosystems, the statement explained.

“In this particular case, our environmental assessment team found that the beaches were contaminated only with light tar oil balls along the shoreline. The beaches have been cleaned up,” the statement said.

A staff member at one of Saadiyat Island’s hotels said guests had reported tar on the beaches.

“There is some tar still washing up but it is not a lot. Guests can also use the beach,” he added. The worker did not want to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the press.

“As part of its ongoing Marine Water Quality programme, the EAD will continue to work with hotels to ensure the safety of our beaches. [We] strongly encourage members of the public to report any illegal activities pertaining to the marine environment, evidence of spillage or injured marine life to the Abu Dhabi Government Call Centre at 800555,” the statement said.

In February 2015, authorities closed the beach “as a matter of public safety” for about a week after they received similar reports of an oil spill. As Gulf News reported, EAD officials later said that the spill had likely occurred as a result of a discharge of ballast water from an unknown vessel.

-With inputs from Nada AlTaher, Staff Reporter