Caribbean nations have been warned about a shipment of radioactive material that is due to leave France on its way to Japan any day now.

Environmental authorities within Greenpeace and the Nuclear Control Institute are worried about damage to fish and plant life if there is an accident.

And Environment Minister Pamela Gordon said that she will use her offices to monitor the situation.

Dr. Edwin Lyman, NCI's scientific director, said there are fundamental packaging and salvage problems.

Should there be a collision at sea which damages the ships casks he pointed out, there could be severe damage and contamination unless salvage operations are carried out immediately.

"Salvaging a damaged, highly radioactive cargo would be immensely difficult and there is no evidence that a credible salvage plan exists,'' he said.

The NCI said that the most convenient route for the ship would be through the Caribbean Sea, the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean.

However the NCI is warning nations in the vicinity to keep the ship 200 miles off their shores because of the potential damage to health if there was an accident.

Moreover, Dr. Lynman alleged that the wrong type of stainless steel is being used for some of the canisters which makes the current shipment all the more dangerous.

Sharon Tanzer, vice president of the Nuclear Control Institute, said the shipment could pose a long term threat to the Caribbean if an accident occurs.

"The radioactive material is coming from France and it is going to Japan,'' she explained. "In the past the shippers have not disclosed the route but we understand that this time the departure and the route will be announced a day or so before it leaves.'' Ms Tanzer said that in the past the ship has travelled along the coasts of Latin America and Southern Africa.

Last year the shipment was expected to take the Caribbean route but it had to take a different route because of widespread opposition.