Didymo Stakeholder Update – September 2009

17 September 2009

Didymo Long Term Management (LTM) Programme

The Didymo LTM Steering Group’s most recent meetings were held on 10th June and 3rd September 2009. Current Steering Group and long term management programme activities are discussed below.

Didymo LTM Programme Review

The Steering Group agreed that an online survey seeking feedback on the LTM programme should be sent to regional group members, and the results used to inform a review of the programme. The survey, sent out in the last week of July, sought feedback on the effectiveness of the programme to date (including communications to partners and information management tools), and on what will be required in the future to successfully expand the programme to encompass all freshwater pests.

The feedback from the survey has been presented to the Steering Group and the information provided has helped in their understanding of how well the programme has supported regional partnership activities to date, what has worked well, what could be improved, and expectations of the programme for the future. Overall, feedback was positive and indicated that the programme was adding value, but feedback also noted opportunities for improvement in areas such as information management tools, especially as we extend the programme to include other freshwater pests.

Framework for a North Island Didymo Incursion Response

The Steering Group reviewed and endorsed this document. The purpose of the document is to outline the framework for how a response to a didymo incursion in the North Island will operate; including defining what role partners will play in any response, what resources partners will be asked to provide, and to assist regional partners in their regional response preparedness planning. This replaces the earlier Didymo North Island Response Operations Manual.

Review of Wet Transfer Protocols Workshops

The Steering Group has for some time identified transfers of fish and related activities as a potential risk activity for movement of didymo and other pests, and agreed to contribute to work to address these risks. Key people from Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, Regional Councils, Fish & Game, industry, and MAFBNZ attended an initial workshop held on 7 April. The workshop focussed on opportunities to:

  • improve coordination and information sharing across agencies
  • streamline processes within existing regulatory frameworks – complexity is acknowledged as a barrier to compliance by those undertaking transfers
  • improve access to process information and protocols by those undertaking transfers.

This was followed by a workshop on 29 May where the ideas from the first workshop were refined and work that partners could undertake in their area of responsibility was identified. Work to progress these ideas will be on-going.

* The next face to face Steering Group meeting is scheduled for February.

Check, Clean, Dry Communications

Check, Clean, Dry Advisory Group (CCDAG)

The Check Clean Dry Advisory Group last met on 9th June and 10th August. The following was discussed at these meetings:

  • The results of quantitative and qualitative research carried out by Nielsen have identified new and emerging audiences. The research has helped determine the Check, Clean, Dry (CCD) programme priorities and work plan for the coming year, and inform a refresh of the CCD message. The research has shown us that we need to talk to some newer audiences who are currently less likely to CCD. It’s unrealistic for us to try to talk to everyone, so we plan to focus our effort in 2009-2010 on reaching more trampers, Maori, and people aged under 35, while still maintaining our past audience messaging.
  • Enforcement options for CCD at a local / regional level as opposed to national level interventions might be an effective means of enforcement. It was noted that any enforcement regime would need to be effective and realistic.
  • CCDAG to provide guidance to ensure the distribution of regional resources and funding occurs in a consistent and equitable manner. An idea to be explored further is to give regions a budget for purchasing collateral, and the regions make decisions regarding type and quantity of collateral they need.
  • New posters will allow for co-branding and for regions to add their own text regarding freshwater pests.
  • An updated Didymo Cleaning DVD has been produced and will be distributed to partners.

Regional Summer Advocacy Funding

MAFBNZ have updated the coming year’s regional advocacy funding application and reporting processes. The new application form and template have been sent to Regional Groups.

Key MAFBNZ staff involved in the Didymo Programme

Corinna Bennett and Ranuka Robinson are Advisers in the Pest Management Group of MAFBNZ, and coordinate the didymo long term management programme. They are the first point of contact for all enquiries relating to the long term management programme.
Contact Details: (04) 894 5534(Corinna) or (04) 894 0281(Ranuka) or didymo@maf.govt.nz

Matthew Thorpe is a Communications and Marketing Advisor in the MAFBNZ Communications and Information Services Directorate. Matthew is the first point of contact for information about the Check, Clean, Dry social marketing programme and the Check, Clean, Dry Advisory Group.
Contact Details: (04) 894 0276 or Matthew.Thorpe@maf.govt.nz

For more information about didymo visit our website at www.biosecurity.govt.nz (offsite link to www.biosecurity.govt.nz)

To report an exotic pest or disease, call the MAF Emergency Pest and Disease Hotline: 0800 80 99 66

If you do not wish to receive these updates please email didymo@maf.govt.nz with ‘Unsubscribe’ in the subject line.