Sat, May 19, 2012, 8:00:50 PM
| Biosecurity |
Protect our coastline from marine pestsYou Can Make a Difference Next time you’re hauling out for a clean and antifoul, remember you’re doing your bit to preserve our marine environment. A clean and thoroughly antifouled hull improves your boat’s performance. A perhaps less well known fact is that good hull maintenance also helps protect your playground or livelihood from the spread of unsightly and often harmful marine pests. Bio-fouling (the growth of marine life on boat bottoms) is a key way non-native marine species can spread. A recent report by NIWA estimated that two thirds of the introduced marine species in New Zealand waters arrived here in hull fouling. Introduced species that are particularly suited to local conditions can quickly establish, becoming pests with potentially devastating impacts. Marine pests can affect marine habitats, fish stocks, recreational activities, aquaculture and tourism. In short, they can damage the very things you value. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is working on a number of projects to stop marine pests getting here in the first place. But locally, there’s a job to do in preventing those that are here, such as the Styela clava and Eudistoma elongatum sea squirts from travelling around our coastline. Ultimately marine biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility. MAFBNZ has some simple biosecurity precautions you can take to keep the seas alive for future generations. Simple Biosecurity Precautions:• Regularly clean your boat bottom – don’t let the growth get beyond a slime layer. |
