One week after a leaky line on a ship spilled an unknown quantity of bunker oil at the Port of Tauranga in New Zealand, there are a few isolated reports of impacted birds, only one of which was captured. In the UK more than 30 birds were taken into care after being coated in cooking oil.
After the Tauranga spill, the New Zealand Department of Conservation received reports of one lightly oiled penguin, which was taken in for veterinary assessment, and two lightly oiled shags, which did not require treatment. The Department requested that anyone observing oiled wildlife, including fish, report such cases to their office.
The spill occurred on 27 April 2015 but high winds and rain delayed some cleanup operations. As of 6 May, six sites were still being monitored and some oiled vegetation and debris being cleared.
In the UK, the RSPCA rescued approximately 30 birds from the Grand Union Canal near Little Venice on 14 May. Affected mallards, moorhens, geese and a family of swans are in care at the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton. Riverboat residents along this stretch of the canal reported the incident and offered to help tthe RSPCA and Swnn Sanctuary with the rescues.
The RSPCA noted that at least 4 more oiled geese were seen and said they planned to return for these birds the next day. They will continue search and collection as needed until the oil is cleaned up.
The Environment Agency placed booms to stop the spread of the oil and is monitoring water quality. A statement from the Canal and River Trust noted that the quantity of oil in the canal, which coated a mile long stretch of the canal suggests it might be a deliberate dumping. The Canal and River Trust and Thames Water are investigating this possibility.
Sources:
gCaptain. Bunker Fuel Spill in New Zealand’s Tauranga Harbour. Accessed online 30 April 2015.
Splash24/7. Tauranga bunker spill cleanup continues, Mobil promises full investigation. Accessed online 30 April 2015
Green4Sea. Tauranga bunker spill cleanup continues. Accessed online 7 May 2015
Brent & Kilburn Times. Baby swan and river birds rescued from huge oil slick stretching from Harlesden to Little Venice. Accessed online 15 May 2015