Didymo Stakeholder Update - 29 February 2008

The purpose of this update is to keep you informed about the work underway around both the long-term management partnership and the wider didymo response.

November 2007 national delimiting survey report

The report on the November 2007 national delimiting survey has been circulated to partners and is available on the Biosecurity New Zealand website at: didymo-national-delimiting-survey-nov-dec-07.pdf (408 Kb)

Ongoing survey activity

Sampling by regional partners is ongoing, with 157 sample results entered into the Didymo National Samples Database since 1 January. Please continue to enter sites, visits and sample results into the database as it has become a very useful resource for up-to-date information.

Database functionality will be further improved by some planned enhancements which should be implemented by early April. We will detail these once they are in place.

The database can be accessed on the didymo 'Partners' section of the Biosecurity New Zealand website.

Each organisation has been provided with its own login to the database, and read-only access is available using the following login:

Username: Didymo
Password: didymosamples1

Didymo long-term management steering group

The didymo long-term management steering group will hold its third meeting on 19 March. A summary of the main activities and plans of the group will be circulated after that meeting. To date the group has been primarily concerned with considering its responsibilities and how it might go about fulfilling them.

Science update

Ecology study 2006-7

In 2006-2007, MAF BNZ commissioned a follow-up to the 2005-6 ecology studies to determine the effects of didymo on native fish, invertebrates (benthic and drift), and water quality (dissolved oxygen and pH), as well as to determine didymo biomass dynamics under different hydraulic, nutrient, light and disturbance conditions. This report is now on the website at 'Ecology Studies'

Gemex Research 2007-8

Review study of the Princhester Creek control trial [Southland Fish & Game and Cawthron Institute]

Sampling has now been completed for this study and results are being analysed.

Impact assessment of Gemex™ on non-target species [NIWA]

The range of fish, aquatic insects, molluscs and crustaceans has now been agreed for this research and testing has begun. Please contact Edward Griffiths if you would like the list of tests being done.

Research into potential treatable didymo infested rivers of the North Island with Gemex™ [Diffuse Sources Ltd]

The decision-making tool to help MAFBNZ and long-term management partners identify waterways that could effectively be treated with Gemex™ is progressing well. Diffuse Sources will be testing the tool during March and we will be approaching some partners to assist with user testing.

Didymo knowledge sharing project

Very many thanks to all those of you who have given your time to assist this project – every contribution has been of value. The project is progressing according to schedule and in March Starfish Consulting will release a simple system for people to add any didymo documents or resources they have to the collection. This resource will be made more widely available a little later, after a decision has been made about where it will be housed and how partners will access it.

Seed funding

Would those who have been granted didymo seed funding for purchases and activities submit invoices as soon as possible please. It is not necessary to wait until all expenses have been incurred. Please email didymo@maf.govt.nz if you have any questions about this. Shortly we will be contacting all those who have been granted seed funding to discuss how things are progressing.

World and Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships

These events will be held in the Waikato, Rotorua, Taupo and Hawkes Bay regions. Steve Smith, North Island LTM Operations Manager, has been working with the organisers: they have done a good job of getting information to contestants and have banned the use of felt-soled boots for both competitions, which will be very helpful in promoting a strong message to an international audience.

Cleaning stations will be provided and staffed by didymo regional group members at both events on all competition days.

MAF BNZ communications staff will attend the World Fly Fishing Championships – they are also attending the BullerFest, Antique and Classic Boat Show, the Auckland Boat Show, and the Maadi Cup.

Communications update

Regional summer social marketing campaigns are slowly winding down with most didymo advocates finishing at the end of the month. We have received many positive reports about the staff and the work they have done.

Another friendly reminder to regional councils to get their social marketing invoices in to Judith Hamblyn before the end of April: if unable to invoice by then please contact Judith and advise when an invoice will be submitted. A condition of funding was the provision of a report evaluating your summer programme. Please make sure you have reports in by April – the information in these reports will help us plan next year's social marketing activities.

Staff who have been providing didymo information to travellers at the Wellington ferry terminals finished at the end of February after a busy three-month summer season. Staffing at the Picton ferry terminals will continue.

We have received good feedback regarding the new pocket cleaning guides and their usefulness. Thanks to all those who have been helping us distribute them.

We have also started planning for next financial year's didymo and aquatic pests social marketing campaign. We will again be able to supply collateral to our partners and stakeholders. We will have available most of the material from this year, as well as some new items that we will identify after we have done this year's campaign evaluation. We are again intending to provide funding assistance for regional council didymo social marketing programmes.

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

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