As war clouds hover over Iraq, it has been alleged that territorial waters of the Gulf country are being polluted with fuel by the us navy. This charge was recently levelled by an Iraqi satellite tv channel. It stated that the us frigates were deliberately causing contamination and such dumping could cause an ecological disaster, threatening Iraq's fish stocks.

Traditional fisherfolk communities are also being reportedly subjected to harassment. "Sometimes helicopters fly over the vessel and flash a radio message asking it to stop. Then armed soldiers board the vessel and carry out search operations,' a captain of an Iraqi fishing vessel was quoted as saying. A us-led multinational interception force is policing the Gulf to prevent the smuggling of goods banned under un sanctions.