Authorities in Antigua and Barbuda have initiated a comprehensive emergency protocol following the confirmed leakage of contaminants from the Cooks Sanitary Landfill into Hermitage Bay. The incident, first reported on the morning of Thursday, February 12th, 2026, by the Antigua Port Authority’s Pilot Station, has triggered a multi-agency response coordinated by the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).
In accordance with the National Marine Pollution Manual, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard and personnel from the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) were immediately dispatched to conduct a preliminary assessment of the situation. This was followed by extensive surveillance operations carried out by a coalition of agencies, including the Central Board of Health and the National Solid Waste Management Authority.
A convening of the Marine Pollution Committee on Friday confirmed the initial reports, identifying a definitive flow of pollutants from the landfill site migrating towards the coastal waters of Hermitage Bay. In response, NODS has partially activated the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to oversee the mitigation efforts.
Remedial actions are now underway, focusing on the urgent containment of the contaminant spread and the initiation of rigorous water quality testing. Specialized equipment has been mobilized to the site to support these operations. As a precaution, public access and activities have been strictly prohibited in the affected maritime zone, stretching from Seaforth Beach to Pinching Bay. This restriction explicitly bans all fishing and recreational pursuits in the area indefinitely. Officials have committed to providing the public with ongoing updates as the situation develops.