30 Aug 2013

Horan: Persistence pays dividends over the Rena wreck

Brendan Horan says the Government has finally announced funding to identity environmental problems caused by the Rena, following his Question in the House on the issue.

Recently he asked the Minister of Primary Industries what scientific studies if any were being considered by the Ministry about the effect of the Rena disaster on the spawning of snapper, their reproductive and growth cycles. Associate Minister Jo Goodhew in reply admitted that there were no recent studies and proceeded to say that from data collected from commercial fisherman that there was no indication that the Rena grounding had generated an effect on the snapper, that the snapper 1 stock covers a region far greater than the localised Rena disaster.

Now, Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced the government is investing a further $542,000 to identify environmental issues on the beaches, seabed, in the water, fisheries, and affecting wildlife and management of waste.

“This is a step forward in the continued Rena saga,” said Brendan Horan. “Finally the Government is talking collaboration with community, iwi, and business about the environmental impact,” he said.

“The next big question is, what does the government mean by ‘restore the BOP environment back to its pre-Rena state’? Is this a signal that the Rena wreck is going to be removed from the Astrolabe Reef?,” asked Brendan Horan.

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