Rena: Sharks get taste for lamb

They might pong to high heaven but export lamb roasts from the Rena have been blamed for bringing lots of sharks into the shallows at Papamoa Beach.

Dozens of the rotten roasts are washing up from a container lost overboard from the Rena, with Papamoa life guards taking advantage of the quiet beach yesterday to help gather them up.

Regional life guard Ben Johnston of Papamoa had one word to say about the roasts: "Putrid."

The surf club's head life guard Shaun Smith described the roasts as a really bad stench.

He suspected that the appearance of the export-quality lamb roasts was why a lot of sharks had been sighted in the shallows, virtually with their bellies on the sand.

Mr Smith said lifeguards had been bagging the roasts up and storing them at the Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club for collection.

Rena was still making its presence felt at Papamoa in other ways.

Mr Smith thinks that the brown sludgy appearance of the surf at the rips was oil being washed out of the sand as the rough seas pounded the shoreline.

The surf was a normal colour between the flags and Mr Smith said there were always two or three kids yesterday braving the conditions to go swimming.

Families were at the camping ground for only a few days and cabin fever tended to set in once the bad weather arrived.

Meanwhile, the rain, wind and swell kept salvors off Rena yesterday with forecasters predicting a strong northerly flow until tomorrow.

The 110-metre crane barge Smit Borneo, being used to lift containers off the deck, has been stood off and may be repositioned on the port side of the vessel once the weather improves.

One oiled penguin was picked up yesterday and will be sent to the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Palmerston North

A Maritime New Zealand spokesperson said a light oil sheen was seen around Rena, extending up to 2.5km to the southwest.

Teams monitored penguin sites around Mauao on Thursday night and none of the 37 penguins found was oiled.

Members of the public are advised not to handle any of the meat that is washed ashore but to call 572 4601 or 027 897 4259 for proper disposal.

with Michele McPherson