New Zealand still suffering from oil spill

This video from 2009 is about a New Zealand dotterel near its nest.

From BirdLife:

Nature still reeling from New Zealand Oil Spill

Fri, Oct 5, 2012

One year on from the Rena disaster, independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand) is still concerned at the ongoing environmental impacts of the oil spill, unrecovered containers and the shipwreck.

Forest & Bird Central North Island Field Officer Al Fleming says 350 containers from the ship have not been recovered. “These containers are breaking down, possibly releasing debris and toxic chemicals into the marine environment.

“The wreck is still on the reef, and Forest & Bird is concerned at possible pollution of Bay of Plenty waters from this. Before deciding on whether the Rena wreck should remain, we would like to see an assessment of the environmental impacts,” Al Fleming says.

The loss of an estimated 20,000 birds when 350 tonnes of heavy fuel leaked from the grounded ship has had a terrible effect on populations of many species of birds that live in the Bay of Plenty and further afield. “Bay of Plenty beaches, estuaries and harbours are important nesting sites for many of our shorebirds, including oystercatchers and terns,” Al Fleming says.

The impact of the oil spill on the local New Zealand dotterel population has been of most serious concern. “Dotterels are a threatened species with a population between 1500 and 1800,” says Al Fleming. “After the Rena disaster, 60 adults were removed from Bay of Plenty beaches. Five died from a lung infection while in captivity. No eggs or chicks were removed from the beaches so they were lost as well. This is a significant loss when you’re talking about a small population of birds.”

Related articles

• Falco ferox, the ferocious falcon. (scrapydo.wordpress.com)
• Auckland’s secret bird sanctuary (stuff.co.nz)
• Oil spill at Timaru port (radionz.co.nz)
• Visit Great Barrier Island – an untouched wonderland (gorentals.co.nz)
• Mark Bellingham: Boaties, let nature have its tern (nzherald.co.nz)
• Injustice at Bodo an eye opener (amnesty.org.nz)
• Oil Spill, Timaru Port, Southland, New Zealand (dixeyland.wordpress.com)