News and stories

The first signal that the invasive Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) was at Northland’s Tutukaka Marina happened when a boat from there was inspected by divers in Tauranga in 2015. Dive inspections showed the fanworm had not been in the Marina for long. Thanks to a quick and thorough response – including removal, surveillance and monitoring – fanworm was confirmed as gone from the Marina several years later.

Mediterranean fanworm

New Zealand was the first country to introduce controls on both marine fouling and ballast water. As a result, a few cruise ships have been turned away from New Zealand in recent years because of hull fouling. The Craft Risk Management Standard requires all vessels arriving in New Zealand to be free of marine pests on arrival.

In November 2023 over 2,000 passengers were disappointed when a cruise ship cancelled its voyage to New Zealand after it was unable to manage the fouling present on the vessel prior to arrival.

Read about commercial vessel biofouling requirements

A boat owner faced a hefty fine for taking his vessel into Fiordland with a dirty hull, when he appeared in the Queenstown District Court in 2022.

Species growing on the hull included the invasive seaweed Undaria (Undaria pinnatifida). Undaria is a large seaweed that grows to 1 to 2 metres long and can rapidly form dense underwater forests. According to special rules for Fiordland Marine Area, vessels must ensure they have a clean hull before travelling within one nautical mile of the coast.

Heavily fouled hull with undaria	Diver removing Undaria

We are fortunate that one of the worst invasive marine species is not in New Zealand waters. The Northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) is a large and aggressive predator of oysters, mussels, scallops and other species. New Zealand’s biosecurity system is designed to protect our coastlines from this seastar and other invasive species.

Northern Pacific seastar

Described as “gorse of the sea”, two species of exotic caulerpa were first detected off Auckland and Northland between 2021 and 2023.

They form vast smothering carpets over the seabed. They get spread to new locations through fragments that attach to boats and gear including anchors or can move around on ocean currents.

Exotic caulerpa can be devastating for other life in the sea as well as human activities. It’s a good reason for boaties to do all they can to avoid spreading this to their favourite places.

Read more about the exotic caulerpa incursion

A mat of exotic caulerpa seaweed on the seafloor near Aotea Great Barrier Island. (Photo credit: NIWA)

The Asian paddle crab is a mean and hungry species of crab that is widespread in Northland and Hauraki Gulf and is also present in Tauranga Harbour.

This species (Charybdis japonica) is large, aggressive and out-competes native crabs for food and space. Females can produce 85,000 eggs a year. It can travel in fouling on moored boats, so we ask owners to ensure their hull and any niche areas are kept clean – especially when you’re about to move.

Learn more about Asian paddle crabs – Marine Biosecurity

Asian paddle crab

Bonamia is an internal parasite that can infect and kill flat oysters, including the famous Bluff oyster or tio.

Bonamia (Bonamia ostreae) can travel with other species on hull fouling and through movement of contaminated shells.

There are restrictions in place at the top and bottom of the South Island and Stewart Island to help protect oyster farming from this devastating disease.

Learn about restrictions against Bonamia

Flat oysters

Auckland’s marine ambassadors are the face of biosecurity for many Auckland boaties. The Auckland Council Marine Biosecurity summer outreach programme has been running every summer since 2019.

The ambassadors chat with boaties at key marinas and boat ramps about marine biosecurity threats in the area and what they can do to protect their favourite places.

The team’s reporting shows there is good interest among boaties, but they are less sure about some of the actions needed, such as checking the anchor to avoid spreading exotic caulerpa. The programme for summer 2023/24 was co-funded by Biosecurity New Zealand.

Marine ambassadors in Auckland

Biosecurity New Zealand relies on the public to report when there is a die-off or other disease impact on marine species.

In 2022, a member of the public reported that a number of sick rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) were dropping off rocks from a bed in Mangawhai, Northland. A series of tests was done and came back negative for disease. It was concluded they had been affected by an environmental event, but still, being able to exclude the possibility of a disease was important.

To report anything unusual that might be a new disease, weed or pest, call 0800 80 99 66.

Sick rock oysters in Mangawhai, Northland

Many of New Zealand’s islands are protected as conservation areas. When boaties visit islands you can help to protect these sanctuaries from biosecurity threats including pest species like ants, mice and rats, the kauri pathogen, and even from pets, as well as marine pests.

When you are planning a trip, look online for rules and guidance.

Mouse eating tree

New Zealand now has a faster and cheaper system for locating invasive marine species thanks to a project run by Cawthron Institute. Cawthron were recognised for this work, done as part of the Marine Biosecurity Toolbox Research Programme, at the 2024 Biosecurity Awards.

The project developed specialised water sampling that links to an app and can give an automated alert to biosecurity managers if something is detected. The early notification means more effective action can be taken. Through its work, the Toolbox programme is also giving opportunities to a new generation of biosecurity scientists.