Rena Recovery Newsletter – Issue 8
Rena Recovery Newsletter – Issue 8
Happy
New Year to all and here is the first update of 2013!
We have had many students working over the summer
holidays collecting samples across the coastline. The
Department of Conservation has reported that wildlife
programmes are progressing well with no inconsistencies. Our
monitoring team is shifting focus to Otaiti where they have
confirmed elevated levels of contaminants. Also in this
issue read about research into clean-up techniques and also
an assessment of impact on mauri.
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version
Further sampling at Astrolabe Reef a
priority for scientists
Further sampling is a
priority for Rena Recovery scientists who have confirmed
there are elevated levels of contaminants close to the Rena
wreck on Otaiti.
The Rena Recovery monitoring team
has recently gained greater access to the reef following
over a year of dangerous salvage operations restricting
access. The team is now working hard to determine the
significance of the contaminants, including any impact on
marine life around the reef, and the best approach to
address those impacts.
University of Waikato Chair of
Coastal Science, Professor Chris Battershill said that it
had been expected that contaminants would be found at the
ship wreck site and they are now working directly with the
salvors to access the reef to collect more
samples.
“Sediment samples have shown elevated levels
of contaminants including copper and PAHs (polyaromatic
hydrocarbons) which are known contaminants that were lost to
sea from the Rena and its cargo.
“While we only have
limited sampling information at this point, early
indications are that the contamination is localised,”
Professor Battershill said.
Click here to read the full
article
Assessing the best techniques to
clean up oil
This is a key question being asked
as part of Rena Recovery research.
When reports
started coming in of a potential oil spill, the Maketū
community pulled together to decide on a clean-up process
and what technique to use if oil were to wash
ashore.
More than 14 months later, those choices made in
the early days are now being analysed and studied to be able
to better understand what clean-up techniques have proved to
be most effective in the New Zealand
environment.
Researcher Tania Gaborit and science student
Summa Newdick are assessing the effectiveness of the spill
sorb product used to remove from the rocks at the Maketū
estuary and out to Ōkurei.
The studies are testing how
well the ecology around the rocks has recovered since being
covered in oil and cleaned up by the spill sorb product.
This programme will be brought together with research being
undertaken at Mount Maunganui where different techniques
were used, including hot-water washing and scraping.
All
the field work is complete for the Maketū team and they are
now working on pulling all the data results together and
developing some experiments.
Pia Bennett, Environmental
Officer for Ngāti Makino Iwi Authority in Maketū said that
the work was a great exercise that would have long-term
benefits.
“We are really thrilled to see this work
being done. Most of all we are excited to see that the next
generation of scientists are getting the opportunity to gain
real world experience.
“Summa Newdick is connected to
our iwi here in Maketu and while she is developing her
science skills and providing valuable research for the
programme, it is special that she is also practicing her
role of kaitiakitanga (guardianship).”
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Understanding
the impact on mauri
One Rena Recovery programme
is assessing the impact the Rena grounding has had on mauri
As part of the Mātauranga Programme, Maketū iwi
are carrying out an assessment of mauri, which is the life
supporting capacity of an ecosystem (including its people)
and including metaphysical attributes. The assessment will
evaluate how the Rena grounding has had an effect on
mauri.
Pia Bennett, Environmental Officer for Ngāti
Makino Iwi Authority is leading this project which has
required a huge amount of effort.
“It is not an easy
process to assess mauri. Each area has its own identity and
different iwi who are connected to that land.”
“We
are doing an assessment focused on our land which is the
Maketū region. Mauri is best measured only by mana Whenua
(people of the land) of each area. While we are only able
to assess a small region, our research will be shared with
all iwi so everyone can learn from the process
undertaken.”
Click here to read the full article
Dive survey assessment of the stern
section and remaining cargo completed
An update
from the Rena owners and insurers
A dive survey to
conduct an external visual assessment of the Rena’s sunken
stern section and its cargo has now been completed.
Early indications from the surveys suggest that of the 36 remaining containers in the stern section carrying known contaminants, many have broken up and their contents have escaped since the vessel broke in two and sank.
Three containers, with cargo intact, were recovered; four were retrieved but were empty; another seven were recovered in pieces; the contents of the remaining 22 are presumed lost at sea.
Captain John Owen of The Swedish Club said: “We have scientists from the Cawthron Institute working with the Rena Recovery Monitoring team to undertake further sampling and testing of water and sediment samples.
“This will
then confirm possible solutions to remediate contaminated
areas, currently known to be in close proximity to the
wreck.”
Click here to read the full
article
ends