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Biosecurity New Zealand’s summer slogan to “see weed, bag it, bin it” is raising some eyebrows.
Meteorologists are forecasting a long hot summer ahead, perfect conditions for the invasive caulerpa seaweed to spread.
At the Hauraki Gulf Forum on December 4, Biosecurity New Zealand’s readiness and response services director John Walsh presented the ad campaign – only to have forum co-chair Nicola MacDonald point out the double meaning in the slogan.
“I have had lots of young people ring me and tell me about the ‘see weed, bag it’ [wording],” MacDonald said. “We are all from island communities,” she told a dumbstruck Walsh. “You put up ‘see weed’, there’s another meaning.”
Mayor appeals to boaties over fast-spreading seaweed invader
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is appealing to boat users and beachgoers to be on the alert this summer for sightings of the fast-growing invasive seaweed caulerpa, and to know what to do if they spot it.
Two species of the exotic seaweed have been found in several locations in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park locations, including in the Iris Shoal north-west of Kawau Island, Aotea Great Barrier Island, Great Mercury Island and Waiheke waters around Onetangi and Thompsons Point.
The pest can spread rapidly, forming vast underwater matting, competing with other species for space and potentially upsetting the balance of ecosystems, presenting a risk to recreational, cultural and commercial marine activities. Caulerpa’s name comes from ancient Greek, and literally means “stem that creeps”.
“Boatie to boatie, we need to do our bit to stop the spread of this pest,” Brown said. “While we learn more about this seaweed, I ask the boating community to please be vigilant. Take every care not to spread it when you move your vessel.”
Caulerpa’s spread is facilitated when small pieces are caught in anchors and fishing gear. Brown said boaties should use moorings rather than anchoring whenever possible.
He warned though that if a controlled area notice or a rāhui was is in place it was unlikely that boat users would be allowed to anchor there. Some fishing restrictions may also apply.
Brown said the incursion of the seaweed was a wake-up call to boat owners, who should be “extra careful about checking and cleaning anything that goes in the water, and making sure you’re not taking hitchhiking pests along with you as you move about”.
“By being vigilant, we can slow down its spread while we learn more about how it behaves in New Zealand, and how we can potentially suppress it.”
More info: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/
Advice for boaties:
• When at sea, before moving between locations, check your vessel’s anchor and anchor chain, as well as any other gear, like fishing lines or dive equipment.
• If you bring up any seaweed on your anchor or hook, securely bag or contain it and take it ashore for safe disposal, for example in a rubbish bin or compost.
• If this can’t be done, boaties should return the seaweed to the waters it came from. There will already be caulerpa below and leaving it in that area will not pose a significant risk of spread.
Advice for beachgoers:
Anyone who finds what they think is caulerpa on a beach or coastline should note the location, take a photo and report it to 0800 809966 or report.mpi.govt.nz
