Mussels, cockles and other sea life will be sampled by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to investigate any further effects of last week's oil spill in Tauranga Harbour.
Regional Council environmental scientist Robert Win has been gathering samples of sea life in the worse affected areas for any PAH contamination. Hydrocarbons from the fuel oil which spilled on Monday, stay in the environment for a long time and can contaminate seafood.
Mr Win has been gathering near Maungatapu, Bridge Marina and Motupuhi (Rat) Island.
The samples will take two or three weeks to be tested, and will be used in the formal investigation into the spill.
Ongoing monitoring of edible species in the harbour will occur to check for contamination.
"A good sign was seeing plenty of wading birds out there fishing this week, as Motupuhi is an important bird roosting area," says Mr Win.
To refine the tests, a basket of mussels has been put near the spill site for two or three weeks before being tested against a basket of control mussels not exposed to the spill. They will be left four weeks before re-testing.
University of Waikato Coastal Marin Group staff, Regional Council-funded Coastal Chair Dr Chris Battershill, marine ecologist Phil Ross and coastal ecosystem research programme Manaaki Taha Moana will give advice and assistance with the sampling.
3 News
source: newshub archive
