19 September 2024
Kia ora koutou
In this update – Controlled areas at Aotea Great Barrier Island, Ahuahu Great Mercury Island and Te Rāwhiti Inlet to continue for another year; and project reports from the Exotic Caulerpa Accelerated Programme now available on the caulerpa webpage.
Controlled Area Notices to remain in place and unchanged
Legal controls banning some anchoring and fishing activities at Aotea, Ahuahu and Te Rāwhiti Inlet will be extended for another year.
The Controlled Area Notices (CANs) were set to expire on 30 September 2024 and are now rolled over until 30 September 2025.
The decision to leave the controls in place follows considerable discussion with affected people and communities, as well as an online survey.
Making this call for Aotea was particularly challenging as we understand the impact the CAN is having on mana whenua and residents. However, Aotea is the most significant area of exotic caulerpa infestation and therefore poses a high risk of spread.
We have received strong feedback, including from the island, about the need to continue to work to contain it and to stop spread to the rest of the Hauraki Gulf and wider.
There is significant investment and work going in to develop methods to remove exotic caulerpa at scale for locations like Aotea.
We are working with the Aotea Exotic Caulerpa Action group on a plan to manage the exotic caulerpa incursion there to allow a return to normal use of the island's harbours and coastlines in the future.
You can see the CAN and its requirements at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa
In addition to the CAN extension above, consideration is being given to placing a CAN at Waiheke Island where caulerpa covers a wide geographical area, but at a lower density than at Aotea and Te Rawhiti inlet.
We will discuss this further with the community there in the coming weeks.
CANs are a measure to prevent or slow the spread of exotic caulerpa from areas of highest density infestation and where there is considerable vessel traffic.
Exotic caulerpa can easily be spread by small fragments being caught up on anchors and marine equipment. Limiting anchoring and fishing methods that make contact with the seabed help reduce the risk of this happening.
Science reports now on exotic caulerpa webpage
Since the outset of the response to exotic caulerpa in July 2021, there has been over $20 million invested ($15 million this year) in work to understand the pest and its distribution, ways to potentially control it, and measures to prevent its spread.
Much of this investment has been on a range of scientific research, including projects carried out under the Exotic Caulerpa Accelerated Programme. This programme was funded from a boost of $5 million announced in February this year.
Nine research reports, four from the programme, are now available on our webpage.
Suction dredge trial plot at Aotea. Photo: NIWA
Exotic Caulerpa National Advisory Group
The Exotic Caulerpa National Advisory Group recently held its third meeting.
Information about the group including meeting minutes can be found here.
The group’s current focus is on the development of a national strategy for the on-going battle against exotic caulerpa and on providing advice to Biosecurity New Zealand on the allocation of the recently announced additional $10 million funding for Phase Two on the Exotic Caulerpa Accelerated Programme. See the media release announcing the new programme funding.
Nāku noa, nā
The exotic caulerpa response team
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For more information about exotic caulerpa seaweeds in New Zealand visit the Ministry for Primary Industries Biosecurity New Zealand website.