As announced by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), exotic caulerpa has recently been confirmed at two new locations in the Hauraki Gulf – the Mokohinau Islands and Rakino Island.
Auckland Council is working with the Aotea / Great Barrier and Waiheke local boards, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Department of Conservation (DOC), mana whenua and the community to determine the best response to these new incursions.
Phil Brown, Auckland Council’s Head of Natural Environment Delivery says that these new sites are common anchorage areas and shows that exotic caulerpa can travel over long distances on marine equipment like anchors.
“It’s disappointing to see these new sites in the Auckland region but we’ve become more tactical in our response. The key is to determine the best level of response and this can only be achieved with rapid and accurate surveillance.”
The new population at the Mokohinau Islands near Pokohinu / Burgess Island was first detected by University of Auckland scientists working in the area who submitted photos of suspected caulerpa. The Rakino Island incursion in Woody Bay was found by the council’s Environmental Services staff carrying out surveillance for exotic caulerpa.
After analysing the images, Marine Invasives Taxonomic Service scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) then confirmed it was exotic caulerpa.
One of the photos MPI used to confirm the presence of exotic caulerpa near Rakino Island.
What should I do if I find exotic caulerpa?
Extensive efforts have been undertaken over summer by kaitiaki ambassadors to inform boaties and the public about what they can do to slow the spread of exotic caulerpa into new areas.
If you bring it up (on your anchor or hook), bag it and bin it! This means securing it safely on board in a bag or container, and binning it (disposing of it safely, away from the water, for instance in your household rubbish bin or compost).
If you find it on the beach, pin, pic, and phone. That is – note the location, take a photo, and report on 0800 80 99 66 or at report.mpi.govt.nz.
