LIMA (Reuters). Spanish energy company Repsol (OTC) stated Friday that a clean-up operation to address a large oil spillage off the coast of Peru near Lima will take place until February. This is in response to an environmental disaster declared a catastrophe by government.

Oil has landed on dead fish, birds and seals. The oil also covered the coastline. Repsol stated that it had asked fishermen for help in removing the oil.

Walter de la Cruz, a fisherman from Puerto Rico, stated that he once collected crustaceans. But now they’re dead when he walks along the coast. “We used the fisherman to take our collected seafood and sell it. Everything smells now like death.”

Peruvians love seafood, and the Pacific Ocean near Peru provides a large source of fish and marine life.

Repsol, according to the government, spilled approximately 6,000 barrels oil in the ocean near La Pampilla’s refinery last week. The company blames unusual waves caused by Tonga’s volcanic eruption.

According to the company, it has not yet determined the extent of the damage and is still investigating the effects.

Repsol also stated that its oil refining activities are going on normally in Peru and that no official investigation is expected to affect the business of the subsidiary.

Repsol stated in a statement that “this incident has not affected our continuity of operations or our ability to supply market,” Repsol stated that the event had not affected the production activities at the refinery.

The spillage had affected approximately 1.7 million square metres (420.08 acres), of soil, and 1.2 millions square meters of ocean according to Peru’s environment agency OEFA.

Pedro Castillo of Peru, the leftist president, described the event as the worst “ecological catastrophe” that has struck the Andean country in recent decades.

Repsol said it had employed about 840 employees to clean the premises. Repsol’s La Pampilla account for 54% Peru’s refinery capacity.