NEW BIOSECURITY RULES IN NEW ZEALAND TO PREVENT SPREAD OF INVASIVE SEAWEED

New biosecurity rules in New Zealand to prevent spread of invasive seaweed. New biosecurity rules to prevent the spread of exotic Caulerpa seaweed will make it illegal to fish or anchor a vessel in an area of Te Rāwhiti in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand from Monday, 12 June 2023.

Two species of exotic Caulerpa have been found in the Omākiwi Cove area – Caulerpa brachypus and Caulerpa parvifolia and the amount found suggests the seaweed has been in the area for a number of seasons. These introduced seaweeds can spread rapidly and form dense underwater fields.

Biosecurity New Zealand’s deputy director-general Stuart Anderson says mana whenua and others in the Northland community understand that preventative measures are needed to attempt to contain this pest.

“These new legal restrictions, known as a Controlled Area Notice, are important to protect the valued Northland marine environment, but also wider Aotearoa New Zealand waters.

“We are working in close partnership with mana whenua for Te Rāwhiti and they have supported this Controlled Area Notice (CAN) by enacting a rāhui over the same area.

“This has been a partnership approach from the outset with mana whenua and the Northland Regional Council. We had really good conversations at a hui at Te Rāwhiti at the end of May, and we have another hui coming up later this week, cementing that commitment to work together.”

The area under controls is bounded by Whau Point, the south-eastern tip of Te Ao Island, the eastern shoreline of Poroporo Island and the northern tip of Tokatokahau Point up to the high-tide area.

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