Marine pests
The movement of boats around the country between harbours increases the risk of marine pests spreading.
Marine pests often ‘hitchhike’ on boats and equipment moving around the country, either from biofouling on boat hulls, attaching to vessel equipment (such as anchor chains and warps) or from the discharge of ballast and bilge water.
To protect the region’s coast from unwanted marine pests, the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020 – 2030 (RPMP) contains rules that apply specifically to craft and equipment moving into or within Bay of Plenty waters.
Be on exotic caulerpa alert! Learn more about this invasive seaweed and why we want to keep it out of the Bay of Plenty.
Be into win this summer!
Think you can identify exotic caulerpa? Test your marine pest knowledge and go in the draw to win fishing gear, clothing and a 150L ice box – perfect for hot summer days in the boat or at the beach!
When in the Bay of Plenty, you must ensure:
Rule 1: The hull is sufficiently cleaned and antifouled, so that the hull has no more than a slime layer and/or barnacles.
Rule 2: All high-risk areas on the craft are free of marine pests (this includes the anchor, chain, anchor wells and live bait tanks).
Rule 3: All boating equipment (including fishing and diving equipment) is free of marine pests.
For more information on marine pests, visit Clean Below? Good to Go.
The Asian paddle crab is an aggressive defender of its territory making it a fierce competitor for native crabs and potentially giving humans a nasty nip.
Australian droplet tunicate is a sea squirt that forms long, cylindrical tubes. The tubes clump together to form dense colonies.
Forms dense carpets that smother the seafloor.
Native to the North West Pacific and is thought to have arrived in New Zealand as an unwanted hitchhiker on a vessel.
Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella)
The Mediterranean fanworm was first detected in New Zealand in 2008 and is now present in a number of harbours around the country.
Pyura originates in South America and is likely to have arrived in New Zealand as an unwanted hitchhiker on a vessel.