Marine Biosecurity News
Be informed with the latest news and resources about marine pests and boat maintenance from Northland to Hawke’s Bay.
No more exotic caulerpa found at Leigh Harbour
Great news for residents of Leigh and Omaha. Since the discovery of a small clump of exotic caulerpa seaweed in Omaha Bay this winter during Auckland Council’s routine dive surveillance, no more has been found in the harbour.
All eyes on Auckland this January
From SailGP to the Moana Ocean Festival, Auckland is a hot spot for maritime events this summer. 18 Auckland Council marine biosecurity ambassadors will be out and about.
Coming at us!
We are stoked to have world cruisers back and it’s good to know that they have had to meet strict criteria with regards to biofouling even before they arrive at our borders. And once they get here, they need to meet all the same regional requirements of the Kiwi domestic fleet.
How to report marine pest sightings
From Northland all the way down to Hawke’ Bay, our regions include a vast amount of coastline. As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can’t get around it all. We need your help!
What happens to marine pest populations when the ocean gets warmer?
Warmer waters mean change for our marine ecosystems. We spoke with senior marine biosecurity adviser Dimitri Collella from Auckland Council about what this could mean for marine pest species in the North Island.
New campaign launches for summer boating season
Exotic caulerpa map now live
An interactive map designed to help anyone interested in exotic caulerpa efforts to see where surveillance has taken place, and where caulerpa has or has not been found, is now live.
Innovation profile: a robotic boat cleaner
A New Zealand start up called Escobar Marine Solutions is offering inspections and cleaning of boat hulls underwater using specially designed drones.
Keen eyes spot possible pest at Kawau
A big thanks to Sharon Harper (pictured), a resident of Kawau Island, for joining us in the war against marine pests.
Tech award for marine pest mapping
We were stoked to hear that the Marine Vessel Portal (MVP) won an international technology award recently.
Asterias amurensis: Is this the marine pest experts fear the most?
Asterias amurensis, or the Northern Pacific seastar is a huge starfish (up to 50cm in diameter) and its favourite food includes mussels, clams, scallops and other shellfish.
Big funding boost for marine biosecurity research
Cawthron Institute’s programme ‘Effective eradication: strategies, tactics, and technologies for successful marine invasion management’ has received nearly $10 million in funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.
Marine pest find in the Abel Tasman ended well thanks to early detection
It’s been a busy survey season for the team at Tasman District Council with three incursions of Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii).
Next Marine Pest ID Webinar - evening session
Learn how to identify some of the marine pests we are most worried about in New Zealand’s North Island. Join us for a live webinar at 7pm on Tuesday 22 October.
Check the rules before summer boating starts
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer.
New red seaweed found in Northland and Auckland
Asparagopsis taxiformis is considered native to the Rangitāhua/Kermadec Islands and is similar to – and can grow among – New Zealand’s red seaweed Asparagopsis armata.
The marine pest ID challenge is back!
Are you a marine pest pro? Take our 10-question quiz to test your knowledge!
Controlled Area Notices extended
The two exotic caulerpa Controlled Areas (at Aotea/Ahuahu and Te Rāwhiti Inlet) have been extended from their current expiry date of 30 June 2024 to 30 September 2024 to provide time for planning and engagement with affected parties before decisions are made on the longer-term future of any control measures.
New biofouling tech on the market
K-REN by Factory is an underwater cover for your boat, developed in France and custom made in New Caledonia for the Pacific. The company’s tagline is “Discover the two innovative, eco-friendly, and cost-effective boat hull solutions : K-REN Protect and ZenDock, putting an end to fouling, haul outs, bottoms paints, and divers.”
Your burning questions answered
More than 200 people registered for our Marine Pest ID webinar and some submitted questions that we didn’t have the opportunity to respond to during the event. Here are our responses.