It's summer!
Best wishes to the fleet heading to the South Island for the Cruising Rally and kudos to the Island Cruising Association who has ensured they are across all marine biosecurity requirements, which are particularly important for places like the Marlborough Sounds and Fiordland.
Surveillance work has been able to continue through most of our lockdown levels, which is great news.
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How good are you?
Take our new marine pest quiz and test your knowledge
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Is Sabella spallanzanii a fancy Italian meal or a marine pest? What should you do if you spot wakame in Northland? If a marine pests does arrive here, what is the worst that could happen? The our five-minute quiz to find out how much you know about marine biosecurity.
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Marine biosecurity hero
Local fisherman first to detect invasive seaweed at Aotea Great Barrier Island
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When Jack Warden took a moment to photograph some unusual looking seaweed during a fishing trip with his father, he didnt know that he would become the first person to detect a highly invasive marine pest at Aotea Great Barrier.
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Scientists have now ascertained that there are two species of Caulerpa present in Aotea Great Barrier waters. Biosecurity New Zealand is publishing regular updates to the Caulerpa response. You can read the latest - and subscribe to receive future updates - by using this link.
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Marine biosecurity champion
Gulf Harbour Marina takes a pragmatic, positive approach to marine biosecurity
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Gulf Harbour Marina takes a pragmatic, positive approach to marine biosecurity. As a certified Clean Marina and also awarded 2020 NZ Marina of the Year, the 1020 berth operation with its own 21,000m2 boatyard strives to be an environmental leader and sets a high standard for its custodianship of the natural world around it
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Persistence pays off
Region challenged by Mediterranean fanworm arrivals but still on top
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A large number of juvenile Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) were discovered by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council marine biosecurity team on the bottom of a boat on a swing mooring.
All of the regions harbours are currently free of permanent infestations of Mediterranean fanworm so its vitally important that any boats moving into the regions waters have clean hulls. In this instance the boat was lifted out, scraped down, treated and returned to the water.
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Winning approach
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council Marine Biosecurity team are finalists in the NZ Biosecurity awards.
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Carrying out more than 5,000 person hours of diving each year, the team conduct widespread surveillance and control work for marine pests across the top of the North Island. The nomination highlights both the importance of the work that the team undertake and also the seriousness of which marine biosecurity threats are treated at a national level. The Biosecurity Awards winners will be announced in February 2022.
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Applications for funding invited
New research aims to help aquaculture industry fight marine pests
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The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is investing in research to advance treatment options for invasive marine pests and support growth of New Zealands aquaculture industry. $650,000 is available over the next four years to deliver treatment options to improve marine pest management. Applications for funding close on 10 February 2022.
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Tools of the trade
Info and news for boat owners and operators
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To help provide more boat owners with clear guidelines, a brand new set of posters/flyers is now available in five languages, along a new set of email signatures and web graphics. Visit the supporters page on marinepests.nz to browse and make use of the selection.
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A tool called a Level of Fouling (LoF) Scale is becoming widely used, including by councils in Northland and Auckland. Its a simple way to assess how clean a boat is, and to determine the risk of unwanted marine pests onboard. It was developed in New Zealand by the Cawthron Institute, and you can download a copy using this link for reference.
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Tidal grids are convenient but have some adverse environmental impacts that mean in many places they are being phased out. Where tidal grids still exist they are convenient for jobs such as checking your keel, rudder or replacing anodes but not suitable for hull cleaning and antifouling. This is because antifouling doesnt have time to cure between tidal cycles, and also because scraping releases contaminants, including heavy metals and pests, into the water. We recommend using an approved haulout facility instead.
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Check it out
Three new innovations from the biofouling industry
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The industry is continually responding to biofouling challenges. Continuous innovation is taking place all the time, not just in New Zealand but around the world, to create environmentally friendly solutions. Here are three examples of new approaches to biofouling management.
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Clean Hull Plan Update
Northland Regional Council, Auckland Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Waikato Regional Council, with Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation, are progressing work to create consistent rules across the regions in relation to hull biofouling. This is called the Clean Hull Plan.
An update on the Clean Hull Plan will be updated on our website page by mid December and formal consultation is now likely to take part in 2022. The best way to ensure that you are in the loop and able to contribute to the consultation process, is to ensure you are subscribed to this newsletter.
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Online resources
Bionet.nz - an online resource for biosecurity information
Pest Control Hub - Northland Regional Council's online resource for marine and other pests
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THE TOP OF THE NORTH MARINE BIOSECURITY PARTNERSHIP
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