CONSERVATIONISTS yesterday demanded a full public inquiry into the Sea Empress oil spillage, amid concern that commercial interests were put above saving the environment.
The British government's proposed inquiry by Marine Accident investigators was dismissed as inadequate.
Ms Amanda Nobbs, director of the Council for National Parks (CNP), said "A full and open public inquiry needs to establish whether the national park was sacrificed, and the extent to which those involved in the rescue were motivated to save the port and the ship above the national park coastline."
Much of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is now heavily polluted by oil with some wildlife rescue services predicting that the eventual death toll of sea birds could reach 50,000 in the worst environmental disaster since the Torrey Canyon wreck in 1967.
The CNP charity which promotes national parks said the initial refusal to allow the damaged Sea Empress into Milford Haven may have been a crucial factor in subsequent oil pollution.
It also fears thousands of tonnes of oil were forced out by pumping compressed gas into the stricken ship during the salvage operation.
The mission to save the lives of oiled sea birds in the aftermath of the disaster continued yesterday.
The RSPCA said birds were being airlifted to the Channel Islands for treatment at the organisation's centres in Guernsey and Jersey.
The first flight laid on by Jersey. European Airways took out 40 birds from Exeter airport, with more expected today.
Mr Colin Seddon, deputy manager of the RSPCA's wildlife hospital in West Hatch, Somerset, said "It is very unusual for us to have to do this, but it is a massive problem which cannot be dealt with at this centre."
Six hundred oiled sea birds are being treated at West Hatch and another 300 all from the affected areas of South Wales were expected to arrive there later yesterday.
Fishermen hit by the disaster voted to keep their boats in harbour in a desperate attempt to save their businesses.