A South West MEP has backed a campaign by environmentalists to stop a chemical, blamed for the deaths of thousands of birds, from being dumped at sea.
Almost 3,000 seabirds have been affected by two incidents, in February and April, involving polyisobutene (PIB), a sticky substance used in a variety of products. Some 2,400 have been found dead or dying on beaches in Devon and Cornwall, covered in the chemical.
South West Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson has urged the Government and European Commission to act following a visit to the RSPCA wildlife rescue centre at West Hatch, Somerset, which has cared for hundreds of the affected birds.
He said: "While MARPOL, the international treaty on shipping pollution, recognises the danger PIB poses to wildlife, there are no restrictions on discharging the substance beyond 12 miles from the coast. I want this to change."
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's probe into the source of the chemical is now focused on seven vessels.
