Plastic wrapping Bluff Port protects Fiordland
4 July 2007
Divers are braving the chilly waters of Bluff Port this week, wrapping wharf piles and structures in plastic sheeting as part of a programme to protect the precious Fiordland marine environment from invasive marine pests.
The technique is used to contain and suffocate fouling pests such as the invasive seaweed undaria (Undaria pinnatifida) which is present in the port area of Bluff. This process will prevent undaria, and marine pests in general, transferring to vessel hulls and hitching a ride into Fiordland.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's Senior Marine Adviser in Pest Management, John Willmer says the plastic wrapping tool has already proved its worth in the Marlborough Sounds. "There the local marine farming industry, local authorities and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) have collaborated in a bid to control the spread of a sea squirt Didemnum vexillum," he says
Nelson-based company Diving Services New Zealand has just started the Bluff work for MAFBNZ. Initially they are treating the wharf where Fiordland-bound fishing, charter and recreational vessels regularly tie up. Similar pest control work is also planned for the main wharf in Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island - another area where undaria is present. The first stage of the project's expected to take about a month and will be repeated over time as pests become re-established within the harbour.
The pest control work is in part driven by concern raised by the Fiordland Marine Guardians, a Ministerial appointed community advisory board, about the spread of undaria in Port Bluff. A recent inspection of the hulls of 65 boats in the port found almost half were carrying undaria on their hulls.
"MAFBNZ is working with those vessel operators to ensure their vessels are cleaned. The pest control work within the port will help prevent any re-infection of the vessels," Mr Willmer says. "All this has a positive flow-on effect in that it will help prevent a host of other potential marine pests from entering Fiordland waters."
Mr Willmer says the plastic wrapping project is part of a wider marine biosecurity programme to protect Fiordland involving the Guardians, Environment Southland, the Department of Conservation and MAFBNZ.
Other initiatives underway are the previously mentioned boat inspections where owners of those boats carrying pests are notified and cleaned accordingly.
John Willmer says working one-on-one with vessel operators is proving to be worthwhile for everyone to help better understand the risks to Fiordland, and to explore solutions to minimise those risks.
"The feedback we're getting is very positive. Vessel operators are supportive of the programme and are keen to play their part and ensure pests are kept out of Fiordland. In the long run, it's going to be up to those who use Fiordland's waters to protect the area and there are some very simple but effective measures boat operators can take."
These measures include regularly cleaning boat bottoms to prevent fouling build up; ensuring anti-foul coatings are up to date and in good condition; checking and cleaning the hull and equipment (buoys, mooring lines, fishing gear, trailers) before moving to a new location; and ensuring any debris removed from the vessel is disposed of safely on land ensures contaminants don't get back into the water to re-establish.
Under the biosecurity programme a range of information resources outlining these preventative measures are being distributed to boat owners and/or operators.
For further MAFBNZ information, contact:
- John Willmer, Senior Marine Adviser, Pest Management 04 894 0238 or 029 894 0238
For information or comment from Environment Southland, contact:
- Michele Poole, Communications Officer 03 211 5115 or 021 784 964
For information or comment from the Fiordland Marine Guardians, contact:
- Malcolm Lawson 03 484 7474 or 027 209 0762