Marine pests hitchhike on dirty hulls
FACT
Biofouling can have a serious affect on your boat and also the natural places you enjoy. It is important that you keep your boat clean and free of pests.
Biofouling can block water pipes, reduce fuel efficiency and speed, make your boat slower and shorten the life of your boat and gear
Plants and organisms can build up on any surface that is underwater. This is called biofouling. Biofouling increases the longer a boat stays in the water.
In the environment marine pests can destroy our beautiful rock pools and beaches, ruin recreational and commercial fishing and make it more difficult to farm oysters and mussels
You can protect your boat and New Zealand’s coastlines by making sure your boat is clean and antifouled. We recommend getting advice from a professional.
Anything that goes in the water can spread marine pests. This includes the boat and its engine cooling system, anchors, ropes and deck.
The Level of Fouling tool is used by some regions to assess the level of fouling on a vessel’s surface and it is a useful tool. Download the document here.
