Urgent Advisory: Please stay off the beach

12pm Tuesday 11 October

People are urged to stay off local beaches, as the Rena oil spill response team is receiving reports that people are “playing” with oil and attempting to clean it up.

Oil is not only toxic, but people doing this risk spreading the oil further and creating more harm to their local environment.

Our oil spill response teams are the best equipped to pick up oil as it comes ashore.

Anyone wishing to help the oil recovery effort or report oil should contact 0800 645 774.

People “playing” with oil are also risk spreading it to their homes and other areas.

Pet owners are also urged to keep their animals off the beach. Anyone concerned their pet may have been affected by oil should contact their local vet.

Sightings of any oiled wildlife should be reported to us on 0800 333 771.

Ed’s note: media are asked to please stop picking up and handling the oil, as this adds to the public perception that it is okay to handle it. This does not help the oil recovery effort.

ENDS

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