Important information for freshwater anglers bringing used fishing equipment to New Zealand

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To slow the spread of the invasive alga didymo and other aquatic pests in New Zealand waterways, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand requires all used freshwater fishing equipment brought into New Zealand to be clean and dry.

From mid-October 2007 MAFBNZ's Import Health Standard for Equipment associated with Animals or Water will be updated to require MAFBNZ staff to treat all used freshwater fishing equipment they determine or suspect is NOT COMPLETELY DRY (inside and out), regardless of whether it has been cleaned before coming to New Zealand.

Felt-soled waders and boots are of particular concern. Recent research has revealed these items pose a particularly high-risk of spreading didymo as they are likely to come into direct physical contact with didymo cells (e.g., stepping on or brushing against algal mats) and the thick, absorbent and slow-drying nature of the material encourages cell survival, increasing the risk of spread between waterways.

Treatment for absorbent items such as felt-soled footwear takes time and the person bringing them to New Zealand may need to:

• Wait at the airport until the item is treated, which could be several hours even if the treatment facility is close by; OR
• Arrange for a courier to collect the item from a MAFBNZ treatment facility (at their own expense); OR
• Collect the item from the treatment facility, during their visit or when they depart New Zealand (only if leaving from same port); OR
• Reship the item/s back to their home address at their own expense; OR
• Authorise MAFBNZ to destroy the item/s (no cost).

Depending on the item there are a number of treatments available, including cleaning/soaking in a solution of detergent and water, soaking in hot water, or freezing until completely solid. MAFBNZ staff will determine the most appropriate treatment for the item.

To avoid this inconvenience, anglers coming to New Zealand should consider bringing rubber-soled footwear.

Good freshwater hygiene is important for everyone. Travelling anglers have an important role to play in protecting the environments they visit.

If you are moving between waterways, you must 'Check, Clean, Dry' all equipment you have used. Research has shown this is the best way to slow the spread of didymo and other aquatic pests. Detailed cleaning instructions for specific items such as felt-soled waders have been developed.

New Zealand rivers offer some of the best fishing in the world. Help us to keep it that way.