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A surge in the prevalence of the marine pest eudistoma elongatum will prove a headache for Mahurangi oyster farmers unless it can be successfully curbed.
Auckland Council warns the pest, which breeds in clusters of slimy white tubes, poses a serious danger to marine areas.
Eudistoma grows on sand and mud and can attach itself to hard surfaces, including rocks and shells.
The pest has been spreading through the North Island and is in three known locations in Auckland, including Mahurangi Harbour and Sandspit.
Local oyster farmers sometimes dub it Bob Marley Weed because the tubes’ resemble dreadlocks.
Mahurangi Oyster Farmers president Danny Addison says the pest creates a bigger labour cost for farmers because they are obliged to scrape it off the oysters.
Council regional biosecurity manager Jonathan Miles says the pest has the potential to displace native marine species should it get out of control. A rash of eudistoma covering rocks could see the loss of native sea urchins, limpets and crabs.
Eudistoma spreads by attaching itself to the hulls of boats, particularly moored boats in marinas that may not get cleaned or taken out regularly. With summer looming and more boats moving about, Council is urging boaties to be on the lookout for the pest, and check and clean their hulls.
Thoroughly cleaning hulls will also help prevent the spread of another pest, the Mediterranean fanworm, which competes with oysters for food.
Mr Miles says oyster farmers and Council are hugely dependent on the boating community to keep their boats clean and join the effort to keep these marine pests at bay.
