Pest Management Partnerships

The Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership is, in effect, a pilot for regionalised partnerships working on marine biosecurity. Its area includes the coastline across the top of the South Island, encompassing the coasts administered by the Nelson City Council and Marlborough and Tasman District Councils.

While initially coordinated by MAFBNZ, the partnership includes representation from the three local councils, iwi through the Te Tau Ihu Customary Forum, the Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conservation, the local aquaculture industry and port companies.

Partners recognise that there is a lot to protect in the region with its unique environmental attributes, its large coastline enjoyed for its recreational opportunities and a significant aquaculture industry.

The partnership has developed a strategic plan (5515 KB) that identifies priority actions to prevent the introduction and minimise the spread of damaging marine species. The strategy was formally launched at a function in Nelson in August 2009.

The local government authorities have made a financial commitment to the programme, each contributing $20,000 per year for the next two years, with MAFBNZ matching this contribution. This is the first time such a joint funding approach has been agreed for marine biosecurity management in New Zealand.

Top of the South regional coordinators (Russ Mincher and Al Campbell) have been appointed to effectively run the programme and they will be developing communication programmes; engaging with local marine users; identifying high value areas to protect; establishing where the risks of pest spread lie; and developing and promoting surveillance programmes to look out for marine pests.

A lot of the programme’s focus will be on two key marine biosecurity messages: If you own a moored boat – keep its hull clean and well antifouled. Report any unusual sea life or illness or mass deaths in marine life to MAFBNZ’s pest and disease hotline: 0800 80 99 66.

Top of the South contacts:
Russ Mincher – russ@minchercampbell.co.nz
Al Campbell – al@minchercampbell.co.nz

The Top of the North Partnership covers literally the top of the North Island, with members from the Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty regions. These include local authorities, central government t agencies such as Department of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries, the aquaculture industry, the Marina Operators’ Association, technical institutes and iwi. The ultimate focus is on building marine biosecurity capacity to stop the spread of marine pests. To date, the focus of this partnership has been working together on operational activities as MAFBNZ builds networks with potential regional partners for the future.

Information sharing is the key outcome, with workshops held in the regions to extend knowledge of marine pests, and numerous local initiatives undertaken to promote stopping the spread of marine pests.

Marine biosecurity information has been given to advocates engaged through the Coromandel Marine Farming Association and Northland Regional Council.

The Marina Operators’ Association is working with MAFBNZ to distribute "clean boating" (404 KB) information to boaties and "clean marinas" guidelines so marinas can self audit their environmental performance.

As well collaborative work takes place on regional events such as boat shows and cruising club events to promote marine biosecurity awareness.

Priority actions for the next year include continued improvements to information sharing, developing regional surveillance and promoting operational guidelines for tidal grid use.

Fiordland is an area with a rich and unique marine environment requiring protection from the impacts of introduced marine pests.

Working to do this is the Fiordland Marine Biosecurity Partnership, consisting of representatives from MAFBNZ, Department of Conservation (DOC), Ministry of Fisheries(MFish), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Environment Southland and the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians) . Each of the central government agencies is responsible for together implementing the Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy that was developed by the Guardians.

Under the Conservation Strategy, MAFBNZ has worked with the other agencies and the Guardians to develop a Fiordland Marine Biosecurity Strategic Plan 2009/10-2013/14.

MAFBNZ is currently developing an Operational Plan for this programme based on the risk management recommendations (developed by the Cawthron Institute under contract from MAFBNZ) work and the joint-agency marine biosecurity response agreement. The Operational Plan will set out activities that MAFBNZ, other agencies and the Guardians to undertake to achieve the goals identified in the Strategic Plan. The Plan proposes that most effort be directed to managing the means by which marine pests can be transported to Fiordland, with supporting measures around surveillance (looking out for marine pests), agency co-ordination, and communications for education and behaviour change.

MAFBNZ, DOC and Environment Southland are working collectively to develop a Joint-agency Marine Biosecurity Response Agreement. This agreement will provide a framework for investigating and responding to marine risk organisms that are detected in the Fiordland Marine Area.

A great deal has already been learned from an interim operational programme that began in 2007. This programme consisted of generic measures (social marketing campaign, vessel inspections, compliance and pest control) to reduce the immediate risk of potential marine pests from Southland spreading into Fiordland. The interim programme will inform and give way to the longer-term operational activities.

The Chatham Islands Marine Biosecurity Partnership is the newest of the regional marine partnerships and is in its very early stages. The partnership’s current members include MAFBNZ (co-ordinator), Environment Canterbury, the Chatham Islands Council, and the Department of Conservation. In time, this partnership aims to include wider representation from other government agencies, industry and stakeholders.

Like other partnerships, this one will focus on prevention activities and changing people’s behaviours, and will target primary pathways by which marine pests can spread, for example, vessel fouling.