How New Zealand’s newest marina is supporting marine biosecurity
Waiheke Marina has just celebrated its first birthday with a cracker of a summer with boats coming and going, enjoying the island destination and the benefits of world-class facilities.
“We are a destination marina and the ability to bring your boat here, berth it safely, and then jump in a rental car or a bus to enjoy everything the island has to offer is fantastic,” says marina co-director Tom Warren.
The marina takes environmental protection seriously: designed and built on floating structures so as to cause minimal disruption to the seabed, it ensures the local kororā / little blue penguin population is monitored and protected from danger and asks its customers to maintain a high standard of environmental citizenship.
“We have developed detailed policies and management plans around antifoul paints, biosecurity and water quality,” says Tom.
Putiki Bay itself where the marina is located is not free of marine pests: some Mediterranean fanworm were already present before the marina’s construction, and Styela clava can be seen growing on structures. There is Australian droplet tunicate nearby and of course, legal controls to stop the spread of the invasive seaweed exotic caulerpa apply on the other side of Waiheke, around Onetangi and Thompsons’ Point.
Tom explains that the marina believes it has a three-pronged responsibility: firstly, to prevent any new marine pests from becoming established. Secondly, to ensure that visiting boats do not carry pests to precious spots. And thirdly, to ensure that vessel maintenance does no harm to the local environment.
It has supported Auckland Council’s vessel hull surveillance program by keeping its customers informed and helping to make sure they are onboard with the process.
“It can be confronting to find out that your boat is not compliant but all boats get fouled so there is no blame - however if there is a pest species onboard it’s important that they know before they head to somewhere like the Mercs or Great Barrier and maybe take the pest with them,” says Tom. “Then we can get them to a haulout facility where they can be cleaned and maintained before they head off.”
Like marinas in Northland, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel, it also enforces the Six-or-One rule, making sure that boats are recently antifouled and/or cleaned on arrival. “This greatly reduces the risk of pests coming into the marina, and also of leaving it on our boats.”
Antifoul coatings proven to be toxic are banned from the marina and maintenance policies are strictly enforced to protect water quality - noting that all rainwater from carparks and structures is filtered and treated before entering the sea.
