Lizard, turtle among more than 100 new species found in Mekong region

Yahoo – AFP, December 19, 2017

The Crocodile Lizard is a scaly reptile that hails from northern
Vietnam's evergreen forests (AFP Photo/Thomas Ziegler)

Bangkok (AFP) - A Vietnamese 'crocodile lizard' and a Thai turtle found on sale in a local market are among more than 100 new species discovered in the ecologically diverse but threatened Mekong region last year, researchers said Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian countries flanking the Mekong river, which snakes down from the Tibetan plateau to the South China Sea, are among the most biodiverse in the world.

Each year, scientists announce scores of new species discovered in the region, which includes Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

But there are fears that many more species could die out before they are found in a region whose jungle and river ecosystems are increasingly threatened by roads, dams and a thriving illegal wildlife trade.

In total, scientists confirmed 115 new species in 2016 after a lengthy vetting process, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

They include 11 amphibians, two fish, 11 reptiles, 88 plants and three mammals.

Each year, scientists announce scores of new species discovered in Thailand, 

Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (AFP Photo/Montri SUMONTHA)

"While the global trends are worrisome, and the threats against species and their habitats here in the Greater Mekong are massive, these new species discoveries give us enormous hope," said WWF's Lee Poston.

"But we have to do more to protect their habitat and prevent them from entering the illegal wildlife trade," he added.

The new finds include a bat with a horseshoe-shaped face and a snail-eating turtle discovered by a scientists in a local market in northeastern Thailand.

The Crocodile Lizard, a scaly reptile that hails from northern Vietnam's evergreen forests, was also among the new species announced on Tuesday.

Although the reptile was first discovered in 2003, it has taken years to confirm its status as a separate subspecies.

Coal mining and pet trade poachers have gravely endangered the lizard, whose numbers are estimated to be fewer than 200, scientists said.

Two new mole species were also found in Vietnam, with researchers noting that their underground dwellings have helped protect them.

Over the past 20 years more than 2,500 new species -- amounting to around two per week -- have been discovered in the Greater Mekong, WWF said.

Graphic on new species discovered in the Mekong region pic.twitter.com/SBKFN4rB1Q

— AFP news agency (@AFP) December 19, 2017

Whale gets close-up of Buenos Aires, delighting onlookers

Yahoo – AFP, 4 Aug 2015

A stranded whale pictured at Puerto Madero harbour in Buenos Aires on

August 3, 2015 (AFP Photo/Juan Mabromata)

Buenos Aires (AFP) - A disoriented whale stunned onlookers and delighted tourists at Buenos Aires' bustling waterfront Monday, swimming alongside boats and periodically surfacing to the perplexed crowds.

The small whale, whose species was not immediately confirmed, turned up well off its healthy course -- near the docks in glitzy Puerto Madero, the capital's upscale neighborhood.

Appearing somewhat distressed, the whale bobbed around a group of yachts docked at the popular residential and nightlife haunt.

A stranded right whale is pictured at 

Puerto Madero harbour in Buenos Aires on

 August 3, 2015 (AFP Photo/Juan

Mabromata)

Marine mammal researcher Enrique Crespo said the whale may have lost its way while migrating.

If it is a young adult, it could survive, but if it is a baby separated from its mother the prognosis is grimmer, he said.

Whale Conservation Institute chief Diego Taboada stressed "it is totally outside its habitat, and it has to be put back on course."

"It has serious problems with its vital signs," he warned, noting that contact with fresh water would likely contribute to infection.

Navy officials were trying to help the animal get out of the fresh water and back to salt water.

Southern right whales migrate toward cold waters of the Mar Argentino area every year, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) south of Buenos Aires.

Spotting them is a big tourist attraction between May and December but they are not often spied in fresh water.

Buenos Aires lies where the fresh water of the Rio de la Plata empties into the South Atlantic Ocean.

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Pioneering Dutch enterprise sets out to put seaweed on the table

DutchNews.nl, July 7, 2015

One enterprising Dutch firm is attempting to commercially farm seaweed and the initial results indicate it may be possible, writes Esther O’Toole.

Do you eat seaweed? No? Are you sure? Only around sushi? Well, think again. Seaweed is found in many consumer products from ice cream and processed foods, to vitamin supplements, toothpaste, mascara and biofuel. 

What is more, being a sustainable crop, it reduces fresh water, land and fertilizer usage. This versatile and tasty resource is drawing a lot of interest in international agricultural circles, including one prominent Dutch enterprise, The North Sea Farm Foundation (Stichting Noordzee Boerderij). North Sea Farm have been testing the nutrient rich waters north of Texel, with a view to getting seaweed on more Dutch plates in the very near future. 

Initially set up by Marcel Schuttelaar, of Schuttelaar & Partners, the foundation launched a proof of concept mission last November. Using two different growing platforms (one static, one flexible) and two varieties of edible kelp, they set out with the purpose of discovering whether the rough North Sea was suitable for this kind of offshore agriculture. 

This month’s first successful harvest seems to indicate that it is. Having laid 10 metres of line in the hopes of growing one kilo of usable product, they ended up with 15 kilos. 

North Sea Farm’s Koen van Swam says the partly crowdfunded project is now heading towards scaling up. The June crop is being independently tested for nutritional value and consumer safety and a second harvest is planned for October. 

Fishing industry

Seaweed cultivation can work in harmony with both nature and existing offshore industries like fisheries, sea energy and conservation. The North Sea is a challenging spot to cultivate with waves that vary in size from one to a whopping six metres high, which can sometimes make access to the platforms difficult. However, unlike more sheltered European growing areas (for instance in Norway and The Shetlands), the North Sea offers real space to spread out.

‘This is really pioneering,’ said van Swam. ‘If we can grow it here, we can grow it anywhere!’ 

The seaweed industry, he says, offers the chance for entrepreneurs from many traditionally strong Dutch trades, such as maritime transport, fishing, mussel farming and agrofood, to collaborate. North Sea Farm expects to help create jobs and offer ‘fantastic growth potential’ for all partners across the supply chain. 

This year the global seaweed market for human consumption was estimated at nearly $6m. The Dutch government is conducting research of its own and has estimated there is scope for up to 400 square kilometres of seaweed fields off the Dutch north coast by 2050, with no discernible negative impact. Seaweed is regularly used by fish as a nursery, so the impact could in fact be a positive one. 

North Sea Farm is equally ambitious as it sets out to raise in the region of €400,000 for expansion, hoping the green initiative’s early success will encourage new investors. That amount would allow them to grow 5,000-10,000 kilos of seaweed by next season. And to make sure the Dutch consumers know what to do with this superfood, they are also working on a cookbook.

For Maritime Minister Susi, Work Starts Now

Jakarta Globe, Kennial Caroline Laia, Oct 28, 2014

Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Susi
Pudjiastuti. (Antara Photo/Prasetyo Utomo)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s new Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Susi Pudjiastuti announced she plans to issue both short- and long-term programs that will improve the welfare of the nation’s fishermen.

The ministry’s first move, she added, is to identify both current and potential problems plaguing Indonesia’s maritime sector, before mapping out targets for the next five years.

“I am neither an expert or an academic [on the matter]; I just want to work fast and show good results,” Susi told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“For a long-term program, I will focus on mapping issues related to illegal fishing, aquaculture and marketing. I will also look into matters surrounding tariff barriers and our maritime products,” Susi was quoted as saying by Kompas.com.

These campaigns have the shared aim of working towards the benefit of Indonesia’s fishermen, she explained, adding that results would not be instantaneous as she still needs to coordinate with directorate generals and division heads of her ministry and compile the necessary data.

The short-term programs, meanwhile, will strive to change the mindset of both companies and individuals involved in the country’s marine industry.

“There are several small steps that we can [immediately] take. Again, we want to focus on helping our coastal fishermen,” Susi said. “But want to teach them to become more business minded.”

Susi conceded the success of these programs would partly depend on the government’s efforts to improve and expand on the nation’s infrastructure, including airports, as transportation is key to the distribution of Indonesia’s fisheries products.

President Joko Widodo surprised the nation on Sunday when he placed the businesswoman at the helm of the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries — an area, critics claim, she knows very little about.

The 49-year-old has made no efforts to deny or disguise her status as a high-school dropout. She established her own fish vendor in Pangandaran, West Java, at the tender age of 18, unknowingly creating a small business that would flourish into ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Products.

Susi expanded into the aviation business in 2004 with ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation and Susi Air, the latter of which has managed to settle into a niche market by flying to remote regions that are not serviced by larger commercial airlines.

Live shark washes up on Wadden island

DutchNews.nl, Monday 24 February 2014

A Starry smooth-hound shark has been washed up alive on the Wadden
Sea island of Vlieland.

A Starry smooth-hound shark has been washed up alive on the Wadden Sea island of Vlieland.

The shark was found at the weekend and taken to the Noordwester nature centre after efforts to release it back into the North Sea failed. The shark has now has been placed in a tank for monitoring.

The shark, just over one metre long, is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the biggest live shark ever to wash up on the Dutch coast.

Experts from the Noordwester centre will on Tuesday talk to officials from the Dolphinarium in Harderwijk about what to do next. The shark is too big to remain in the Noordwester tank, Nos television reports.

Beijing beckons giant rubber duck north for the winter

Want China Times, Xinhua 20 July 2013

More than 30 yellow duck toys bedeck the wharves and pleasure boats
in Shichahai park. (Photo/XInhua)

A huge rubber duck has ignited a yellow frenzy in Beijing even before its arrival, with dozens of its feathered brethren appearing in a lake that aspires to be its swimming pool.

More than 30 yellow duck dolls have bedecked the wharves and pleasure boats in Shichahai park since Tuesday, as the park vied with other Beijing waters for hosting the oversized bath toy.

"We hope the presence of the 'small yellow ducks' will attract the 'big yellow duck' to swim here," a boat ticket seller in the park told Xinhua.

Created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, the giant rubber duck is expected to visit Beijing in September after making a splash in Hong Kong. During its one-month visit in Victoria Harbour, it attracted 8 million tourists and even triggered widespread whining after it was temporarily deflated for maintenance on May 14.

News of its arrival has elated Beijingers, who jokingly said online that they would welcome the giant fowl with sweet bean sauce and onions, seasonings that go with the famous Peking duck.

On Friday, tourists in the park were seen hugging the smaller duck dolls as they took boat trips around the lake, which boasts a large expanse of lotus and many waterfront pubs.

A mother surnamed Yan was seen negotiating with the park staff whether the ducks could be sold at a price, as her 5-year-old son could not be separated from the stuffed toy lying on a lakeside bench. "We wish so eagerly for the genuine duck to come. I'm sure it will bring a lot of happiness to the city," Yan said.

Ling Min, a spokeswoman with the park's administration, said they hope the small ducks will spread joy and positive energy "just like the big one has done."

"Living in Beijing is very stressful, so we hope the ducklings will remind people of their childhood and help them relax," Ling said.

To shun accusations of the park making a profit using cheap knock-offs, Ling said they had explained to boaters about the distinction between the smaller ducks and the original design of the giant rubber one.

The inflatable duck has triggered discussions on copycatting after several Chinese cities had reportedly installed copies of the ducky leviathan in often clumsy attempts to mimic the real spectacle.

An American tourist who gave his first name as Kevin said there are differences between intentional duplication and using knock-offs in a celebration to welcome the real thing.

"If I had made the yellow duck and saw people here liked it and did something to prepare before its arrival, I think I would be very happy to come," Kevin said.

Thousands of people crowd the waterfront on the last day to see a

giant duck in Hong Kong on June 9, 2013 (AFP, Richard A. Brooks)

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Oyster farmers in Brazil embrace sustainability

Deutsche Welle, 17 June 2013

Sustainable oyster farmers have turned Brazil's Bay of Guaratuba into a model of eco-friendly food production. They are producing some of the tastiest oysters in the world and educating locals about how to be green.

In the southern state of Paraná, a large inlet in the middle of dense Atlantic forest forms the Bay of Guaratuba. This is one of Brazil's most biologically rich ecosystems. On the calm waters of the vast bay, the tranquility is only broken by the occasional sound of human activity.

Nereu de Oliveira discovered this place about a decade ago. He liked the area so much that he decided to leave his job as a lawyer and open an oyster cultivation site on the bay. He built a restaurant and environment education center and started to get interested in new ways to protect the environment.

In 2005, he decided to partner with Cultimar, an initiative of the Federal University of Paraná. Cultimar's goal is to support sustainable aquaculture in Brazil.

Oliveira left his carreer as a lawyer
to pursue a life in aquaculture

Oliveira told DW that he farms oysters in a sustainable way, instead of extracting oysters from the wild population. This way, the shellfish continue to fill their place in the ecosystem.

In order to encourage oyter farmers to support sustainable practices, Cultimar has created a health certificate. This gives local oyster farmers - who are so proud of their world-famous oysters - an official standard to aim for.

Lab certification

Scientific testing of oyster quality is done at a university in Paraná's capital city Curitiba. Within the laboratories, water gurgles and bubbles in basins where ocean organisms are kept for examination. Researcher Karin Yamashiro explained how the oyster testing works.

"We open them up, collect the oyster as well as the intervulvar liquid, put it in sterile machines that homogenize the samples, then extract the liquid - one milliliter to test for E. coli and staphylococcus, another milliliter to identify salmonella," Yamashiro said.

Ostrensky says environmental education
has shifted thinking in this region

In addition to scientific monitoring, the Cultimar project works to distribute new knowledge and practices in local coastal communities. Antonio Ostrensky heads the university's aquaculture research institute. "The fact is, you can't just talk science to the oyster producers. They're not going to understand the science. You have to translate it for them. Simplify," Ostrensky told DW.

The health certificate is something any oyster farmer can understand and appreciate. The technical process adds value to the oyster and the certificate provides an easy tool for marketing sustainable practices.

And consumers like the extra safety measures. Oysters are ocean organisms that filter water and can carry disease. So consumers are willing to pay more for oysters they know are certified as safe for consumption.

Food security

As Brazil's economy expands, mariculture is becoming more important, especially because it has a lower impact on the environment than other food production activities. Communities involved in new sustainable oyster production also have an opportunity to generate stable income. They are also able to stay on their land. In nearby coastal regions, developers have looked to exapnd high-rise residential communities with waterfront views, instead of finding ways to preserve the environment and support local industry.

Small-scale production of oysters is a sustainable alternative to
traditional fishing

Oyster cultivation is a good alternative to the overfishing o that used to take place in Guaratuba before Cultimar came into the picture. Ostrensky says the project has shifted peoples' thinking.

"Nowadays if you go there, you see a culture that involves much more than production; it involves environmental education, restaurants, tourism," Ostrensky said. "I think the scale we've been working on has brought about a great transformation."

Guaratuba oysters are considered
some of the tastiest in the world

Oliveira says that a continued focus on oyster cultivation will help preserve the region, because healthy oysters demand water free from impurities. He agreed with Ostrensky that the project has transformed the region.

"You see an evolution in the people of the region. Altogether, it ends up improving the people's lives," Oliveira said. "The world needs protein for human consumption. Fish, oysters, shrimp and other seafood can all contribute to a healthy diet."

Oliveira even believes that sustainable fishing practices in Guaratuba could be replicated in other regions of Brazil, and around the world.

Anstruther in Fife sees mass stranding of pilot whales

BBC News, 2 September 2012

More than 20 whales are believed to have died after becoming stranded

Animal rescue experts have been called to a mass stranding of whales on the coast of Fife.

More than 20 whales are thought to have died out of an estimated 30 that were stranded.

The coastguard said nine whales were being kept alive by vets from British Divers and Marine Life Rescue, with help from the emergency services.

The incident between Anstruther and Pittenweem involves pilot whales, each of them approximately 20ft (6m) long.

Forth coastguard were alerted to the incident at about 07:00 BST on Sunday.

Three of the stranded whales are believed to be young pups.

It is hoped four of the surviving mammals will be refloated at high tide on Sunday.

A large number of bystanders gathered at the scene, and the coastguard urged the public to stay away to allow rescue teams to carry out their duties.

Coastguard teams from St Andrews and Leven, Anstruther lifeboat, and Fife Police are assisting with the incident.

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Cargo ship Aztec Maiden runs aground off Netherlands

BBC News, 20 January 2012

The ship is on sand near Wijk aan Zee

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A cargo ship has run aground on the Dutch coast 20km (12 miles) west of Amsterdam after its anchor slipped in an overnight storm.

The empty vessel appeared to be stable after drifting towards the coast and rescue services said there was no sign of any fuel leak.

It was named as the 155-metre (500-foot) Aztec Maiden, a Philippine-registered freighter with a crew of 21.

Tug boats are being readied to pull the ship free.

There were no reports of injuries after the ship broke free and drifted, coming to rest on sand near the North Sea coastal town of Wijk aan Zee.

"As far as we can judge, the ship is stable," Peter Verburg of the Dutch coast guard told state broadcaster NOS.

While there were no reports of oil leaks, the coast guard was "monitoring it very closely", he added.

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Bali Increasingly a Stop for the World’s Cruise Ships

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, January 02, 2012

Bali has increasingly become a stop on the itineraries of cruise ships. Officials,
 and a port official says 2012 promises to be the biggest year yet for the island.
 (JG Photo/J.P. Christo)

      

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Denpasar. Bali has increasingly become a stop on the itineraries of cruise ships, and a port official says 2012 promises to be the biggest year yet for the island.

Iwan Sabatini, the general manager of Pelabuhan Indonesia III, which manages Benoa Port in southern Bali, said on Monday that 35 cruise ships berthed at the port last year, compared to 27 in 2010 and 15 in 2009.

“That number exceeded our target. We were really happy,” Iwan said.

The target for this year, according to Iwan, is 28 visits. That should not be too difficult to achieve, with Iwan saying 38 cruise ships had already indicated tentative plans to stop at Bali in 2012.

The first of those 38, the Legend of the Sea, a luxury cruise ship operated by Miami-based Royal Caribbean, is scheduled to berth at Benoa this month.

The 264-meter-long ship was scheduled to stop at the port last year but was unable to stop because the water was not deep enough in front of the jetty.

Iwan said they had completed work to deepen the sea to at least nine and a half meters for a width of 150 meters all along the jetty.

Bali is constructing a deep port for cruise ships in Tanah Ampo, in Karangasem district. The project had been halted because of funding problems but the Karangasem district chief, I Wayan Geredeg, said a new agreement signed by the ministries of transportation, people’s welfare, tourism and the creative economy, and maritime affairs and fisheries would allow work to resume soon.

Geredeg said the Tanah Ampo cruise ship terminal would provide another major gateway for tourists to arrive on the island, in addition to Ngurah Rai International Airport.

More than 2.5 million foreigners visited Bali in 2010, and the target for last year was 2.6 million to 2.8 million.

Dike to house ‘blue energy’ plant

RNW, 23 December 2011

Afsluitdijk, The Netherlands

The cabinet has approved funding totalling 20 million euros for sustainable energy projects on the Afsluitdijk, the 32-kilometre barrier that closed off the Zuiderzee from the open sea to create what is now the freshwater IJsselmeer lake.

The dike will house an innovative osmotic power plant, or ‘blue energy’ plant, which exploits pressure created when salt water passes through a membrane to mix with fresh water. Solar panels will also be mounted on the dike.

The sustainable energy funding comes as part of a renovation package to increase the safety of the Afsluitdijk, which was completed in 1932. In its present state the barrier can no longer guarantee protection against high water, the Infrastructure Ministry says.

The surface of the dike is to be reinforced along its entire length, and the sluices that drain excess water from the IJsselmeer into the sea will be given a 200-million euro overhaul.

The regional authorities have also investigated opportunities to use the dike for recreational purposes. The renovation project may also include the construction of a marina. At present the dike serves as a road link between the west and north of the country.

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ANP says suspends Chevron drilling rights in Brazil

Reuters, SAO PAULO, Wed Nov 23, 2011

An aerial view shows oil that seeped from a well operated by Chevron at Frade,

 on the waters in Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro state November 18, 2011. 

(Credit: Reuters/Rogerio Santana/Handout)

(Reuters) - Brazil's National Oil Regulator (ANP) said on Wednesday that it is suspending the drilling rights of U.S. oil major Chevron in national territory until it clarifies conditions of the recent oil spill in its Frade field.

The ANP also said it has denied Chevron's request to drill into ultra-deep subsalt areas, which hold huge deposits of oil off Brazil's coast.

(Reporting by Reese Ewing)

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Twelve New Species of Fish Found Near Bali

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, November 14, 2011

This handout picture released on May 13, 2011 by Conservation International
 Indonesia and taken on May 11, 2011 off the resort island of Bali shows a
 new species of fish named "Parapercis". Scientists from Conservation International
have discovered eight new fish and one new coral species off Indonesia's Bali island.
Indonesia is a massive archipelago of 17,000 island which are home to rich marine
biodiversity. (AFP Photo)   

           

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Denpasar. Scientists from the US-based Conservation International said they may have discovered 12 new fish species in the waters off of Bali.

“Right now the fish are being identified and classified. Hopefully by December, or at the latest by January, the names can be listed and formalized [as new species],” the group’s coral fish researcher Mark van Nydeck said on Sunday.

The unidentified species cover a number of genus and families, including the eels, damsels and coral fishes in the genus of Siphamia, Heteroconger, Apogon, Parapercis, Meiacanthus, Manonichthys, Grallenia and Pseudochromis.

Partnering with the local maritime and fisheries agency, the Bali Marine Rapid Assessment Program began in January with a survey of 33 marine locations around Bali covering depths of 10 meters to 70 meters.

The group said Bali had a high level of marine biodiversity, with more than 1,000 species of fish.

In May, Conservation International discovered eight new species of coral fishes and one new species of coral. The species were believed to be endemic to the area and had not migrated from other regions.

The study found that coral reefs in Bali had been well-preserved and their condition was significantly better than that reported in studies 20 years ago.

But some species of fish are becoming increasingly hard to find, such as sharks and groupers. The finding indicates that there has been over-fishing in the area.

More than 100 sharks are captured and killed each day in Bali, the group said, particularly the long-finned shark, which is prized for its fins.

Trading in shark fin is legal in Indonesia and can fetch up to Rp 2.5 million ($280) per kilogram.

Ship grounded on New Zealand reef watched for signs of oil spill

English.news.cn   2011-10-05

The 236-meter cargo ship Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef, about 12
 nautical miles off the coast near Tauranga Harbour, at around 2. 20 a.m.
Wednesday and was listing, said a statement from Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's shipping authorities have cordoned off a Liberian-flagged container ship that has grounded on a reef off the east of the North Island as they attempt to assess whether it poses an environmental risk.

The 236-meter cargo ship Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef, about 12 nautical miles off the coast near Tauranga Harbour, at around 2. 20 a.m. Wednesday and was listing, said a statement from Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).

None of the 25 crew aboard the 47,000-tonne vessel were reported injured, it said.

A light sheen of oil was visible around the ship, but it was thought to be hydraulic oil from the engine and was not considered "a significant environmental risk at this point," it said.

MNZ had activated its Maritime Incident Response Team (MIRT) of experts to provide technical advice and oversight.

MNZ's 25-strong National Response Team of oil spill specialists was setting up a command center in Tauranga, and would lead the response in the event of a significant spill from the ship.

MIRT incident controller Renny van der Velde said the plans being put in place by the oil spill response team would form a safety net in the event of any spilled oil.

"While the aim is to remove the vessel with no oil spilled, it is important to have contingency plans in place in case something goes wrong."

The vessel owner -- reported to be the Israel-based Ofer Brothers Group, one of the world's largest private shipping firms - - was responsible for coordinating a salvage plan.

MNZ was also working with wildlife experts from Massey University and the Department of Conservation, which advised there were no immediate concerns for marine life, to prepare for any possible spill.

An MNZ maritime safety inspector aboard the vessel had assessed the damage and advised that the ship had several breaches to the hull, affecting cargo holds on the port side.

The ship was on a 10-degree list, but was stable on the reef, and fuel in tanks on the port side was being transferred to the starboard side as a precautionary measure, said the MNZ statement.

Pumps were working remove water from the cargo holds.

The ship's captain was in discussion with the ship's owner and salvage experts to assess how best to move the ship off the reef, but a decision was expected to take "some time."

The local Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff has ordered a 1- kilometer exclusion zone around the vessel, which was fully laden.

Tauranga harbour master Carl Magazinovic he had received reports of "sightseeing vessels" near the grounded ship, potentially causing safety issues and disrupting response efforts.

"This situation is expected to continue for some time so we will be monitoring movement of vessels around the area, and anyone found breaching the exclusion zone could face a fine of up to 20, 000 NZ dollars (15,220 U.S. dollars)," said Magazinovic.

Michael Hodgins of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, which chartered the 21-year-old Rena, told Radio New Zealand it was carrying timber, milk powder, meat and fish.

He said the crew would have been familiar with the route it was taking, which started in Singapore and included ports in Australia as well as New Zealand before heading back to Sydney, a journey usually taking about six weeks.

The 236-meter cargo ship Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef, about 12 nautical

 miles off the coast near Tauranga Harbour, at around 2. 20 a.m. Wednesday

 and was listing, said a statement from Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).

(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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