Rena Recovery Newsletter - Issue 10
Summer research projects nearing completion

Rena Recovery research projects are starting to take shape and in this update you can find out more about some of the work studying different oil cleaning methods. This work will not only help us to assess how the environment has recovered but it also adds to international research on oil cleaning methods. We have some project updates included, with news on dotterel recovery. We hope you enjoy reading our update, and have a safe and happy Easter break.

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(Pictured: University of Waikato Professor Chris Battershill, who is leading the monitoring programme with Maketū research student Summa Newdick)

Study investigates different oil cleaning methods
An experiment investigates how sea creatures re-establish after oil has been cleaned from the shore.

University of Waikato student Alice Podziewska and supervisor Dr Phil Ross have completed an experiment testing a range of different cleaning techniques that remove oil from rocky shore environments.

Their project involved oiling small tiles and cleaning each tile using different techniques, including peat moss, corexit, scraping and water blasting. The tiles were then attached to a harbour jetty and assessed weekly to check for growth of flora and fauna.

The results of the pilot study showed that in the upper Tauranga harbour, barnacle growth was not adversely impacted by the presence of heavy fuel oil, so using a different cleaning method was not significant.

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Dotterels doing well post-Rena
Massey University have released an update on their post-release monitoring of dotterels

Monitoring shows the population of rare New Zealand dotterels captured during the Rena oil spill has recovered well from the event.

About 120 dotterels were in the area between Matakana Island and Matata at the time of the spill in October 2011, and the decision was made to take 60 into captivity to keep them out of the path of the oil.

Independent shorebird ecologist Dr John Dowding has been monitoring the population since it was released back to its habitat at the end of 2011. He says of the dotterels taken into captivity, more than three-quarters were alive a year later.

“After some losses shortly after release, the birds held in captivity appear to have re-adjusted to life in the wild, showing normal rates of survival and dispersal, and typical levels of breeding activity.”

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Review of innovative rock cleaning technique used in Maketū
Maketū used peat moss to absorb oil off rocks

Researcher Tania Gaborit-Haverkort (MSc), assisted by Summa Newdick, has completed a report on the use of peat moss to clean oil off rocks in Maketū.

The research project has involved reviewing oil cleaning methods and a survey of the Maketū coastline one year on from the Rena grounding. This project was made possible through a collaborative research agreement between Maketu Iwi and the University of Waikato.

Maketū residents Tania and BSc student Jesse Bramley approached the Maketū Rena clean-up committee with the idea of using a Canadian peat moss (SpillSorb) to clean oil off the rocks at Ōkurei point. The trial impressed the Maketū Rena clean-up Committee who agreed to the peat moss as the primary cleaning method on Maketū rocks.

Pia Bennett, Maketū Rena Co-ordinator said that Maketū iwi are pleased to be nearing the finish line with another Maketū iwi-led Rena project.

“From here, the intention is to integrate this assessment with the microbiological and histological work being done,” she said.

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For more information visit:

www.renarecovery.org,nz

NIWA to begin work at Mōtītī and Otaiti
NIWA has been contracted by Rena Recovery to check for any foreign species that may have come off the Sea Tow 60 barge.

The Sea Tow 60 was brought to New Zealand from Australia under urgency to help with the Rena response in October 2011 and the hull of the barge was not cleaned properly before it left Australia. NIWA are now at the stage where they can start their work around Mōtītī Island and at Otaiti Reef. Their work will begin as soon as the weather permits and we look forward to bringing you the results when they are available.

Rena oil update
In recent weeks a few people have reported finding oil on their feet after spending time at the beach.

The only area with reports of oil spots has been in the shallow water where the waves are rolling in. This area is also known as the wash zone. The wash zone plays an important part in the environment’s natural cleaning process where large swells cause oil to resurface and wave action breaks down the oil.

While oil contains PAHs - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - which can be toxic, the ocean contains bacteria that break down the structure of oil into less complex substances that are less hazardous. This process happens over time and through wave action along the shoreline and rocky shore.

A positive note is that shoreline monitoring and reports from the public have not highlighted any oil appearing above the tide line up on the dry sand for some time.

If you do come across any significant amount of oil on the beach remember to notify the Bay of Plenty Regional Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.

Wildlife fatalities checked for links to Rena grounding

Rena Recovery Wildlife Programme Leader, and Department of Conservation Programme Manager (Biodiversity) Chris Clark, has said that work in the Bay of Plenty continues to monitor for impacts from Rena.

“When dealing with any unusual bird or marine mammal fatalities we have ensured there is a concerted effort to determine whether it is related to Rena oil and debris.

The key item we are looking for is small plastic beads. We know that a lot of these beads have been lost into the environment from Rena containers and we are watching carefully to see if wildlife might be mistaking the beads for food.

Plastics ingestion or entanglement by sea-birds is a concern for us, and we are actually pleased to say that so far our concerns have not been realised and sea-bird mortality seems to be similar to other years.

It is reassuring to know that so far we have not found any links, but we will continue to be vigilant with anything unusual to ensure we have an understanding of the impact the Rena has had on wildlife.”

Aecora take over contract for shoreline clean-up

A local contractor company, Aecora, has taken over the onshore debris recovery programme from British based Braemar Howells.

The Aecora team, led by Adam Desmond who worked for Braemar Howells following the grounding, will continue this work with coastal communities.

John Owen of the Swedish Club said the change to Aecora would mean all money being invested by the insurers to recover remaining debris would be going directly into the New Zealand economy, rather than offshore.

The free-phone number to report any Rena specific debris remains the same: 0800 333 771.

ENDS

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