Non-indigenous marine species

Building on a baseline survey programme, in early 2008 MAFBNZ began a programme of targeted marine pest surveillance. This programme of work looks out for a range of unwanted marine pests in some of New Zealand's buiest and therefore high-risk locations - namely ports and marinas of first entry for international vessels.

The targeted surveillance sets out to detect six specific marine pests regarded as having potential to impact on New Zealand's marine environment. These pests are: the Chinese Mitten crab, the European Shore crab, The Asian clam, the marine weed Caulerpa Taxifolia, the Northern Pacific seastar and the Mediterranean fanworm. Information about these pests is available under Pests & Diseases, Salt & Freshwater Organisms.

The programme's key objective is to detect potentially invasive and harmful marine animals and plants early enough to maximise the chance of removing or controlling them. The targeted surveillance is also designed to detect the spread of already established pests to previously uninfested locations.

The programme is being undertaken for MAFBNZ by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). This pest-specific targeted surveillance is being undertaken at 10 locations twice yearly in winter and summer.

Marine Biosecurity Porthole

MAF and NIWA have launched a new web portal that offers a previously unseen record of the marine pests that have been recorded in New Zealand waters.

The Marine Biosecurity Porthole houses data from the MAF-funded marine surveillance programmes, NIWA’s Marine Invasives Taxonomic Service (that identifies marine specimens) and other verified observations.

The portal features a web-mapping application that allows users to view sites surveyed around New Zealand and distribution records for individual species.

It also gives access to information on significant marine pests and a metadata catalogue allowing search and download of information and reports.

Page last updated: 15 August 2011