Fishing crews in the Atlantic keep accidentally dredging up chemical weapons

Since the 1970s, the waters off the Atlantic coast have been haunted by the remnants of World War I and II, with an estimated 17,000 tons of unspent chemical weapons disposed of by the U.S. government. This troubling legacy has emerged anew, impacting commercial fishing operations in the area. A recent report from health officials in New Jersey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights three alarming incidents between 2016 and 2023, where fishing crews unintentionally retrieved hazardous chemical warfare munitions (CWMs). These encounters have exposed at least six crew members to mustard agent, a toxic substance notorious for causing severe blistering burns on skin and mucous membranes. In one notable case, a crew member required emergency treatment for respiratory distress and second-degree burns, while another suffered extensive injuries that necessitated hospitalization, skin grafts, and ongoing physical therapy. Health officials have warned that the continuous recovery of CWMs poses significant risks to both workers and food safety. The unpredictable nature of ocean currents, storms, and various offshore activities means that the locations of these disposed munitions can remain a mystery, often drifting far from their original dumping sites. This is not an isolated issue; a similar report from 2013 documented three incidents in the mid-Atlantic region, where clam fishermen in Delaware Bay reported frequently encountering munitions that emitted a garlic-like odor, indicative of chemical agents. In one of the recent incidents, a fishing crew off Atlantic City dredging for clams inadvertently brought a munition on board. After a crew member noticed and discarded it, they experienced severe arm burns that required skin grafting. Compounding the issue, a delay in reporting the incident allowed contaminated clams to enter the market, resulting in a recall of 192 cases of clam chowder and the destruction of 704 cases of clams. The ongoing presence of these hazardous materials in the fishing grounds raises urgent questions about regulatory oversight and the safety of seafood harvested from these waters.