Waiheke Marine Project leaves nothing to chance

The Waiheke Marine Project is as ready as it can be for an incursion of Caulerpa on the island’s coastlines. 

The Waiheke Marine Project and Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke have collaborated with the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Waiheke Local Board and Auckland Council Marine Biosecurity to form a Waiheke specific response to exotic Caulerpa.

The readiness includes knowledge gained from other countries, community education in identifying and reporting Caulerpa, and having the necessary equipment and processes established and waiting.

“We are in contact with the Southern California action team who have done two successful eliminations and are well on the way with the third. We are working to learn from them,”  says Craig Thorburn of the Waiheke Marine Project.  

More than 5,000 square metres of seabed in the vicinity of popular anchorages has already been surveyed using an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) and this will be repeated every six months.

Should Caulerpa be found, they aim to be ready with pre-agreed action plans customised for several incursion scenarios, aligned with Biosecurity New Zealand and Auckland Council requirements. 

Craig says that as with any marine or terrestrial pest, prevention, early identification and eradication is the easiest and best way to deal with Caulerpa. 

“There is already nearly 90 hectares* at Aotea. Experience shows that 90 turns into 900 which turns into thousands very quickly.”

“We are ensuring that if Caulerpa turns up, which it is probably going to, we can detect it early and be ready for action.”

*88ha at 50% coverage 

Photo (c) Project Kahurangi