As the tender process for the removal of stricken cargo ship Rena wreck continues, clean up efforts have been speeded up to avoid disrupting breeding birds.
Environmental clean-up company Braemar Howells is giving Matakana Island top priority in its shoreline clean-up operations out of consideration for its resident birdlife.
The Bay of Plenty island is a popular dotterel breeding ground. Braemar operations manager Neil Lloyd said the best possible clean-up effort will be made over ensuing weeks and then halted, so as not to disrupt their mating patterns.
Areas further down the east coast are also the focus of clean-up plans because adverse weather has stirred up debris in the Pukehina area and further down the coast including plastic gloves, refrigerated container foam, timber, boards, plastic and noodle packets.
A labour force and vessels will be sent to those affected areas once a "good weather window" permits.
