NZ Seafood Industry Council Concerned by Serious Bio Security Risk

Press release by NZ Seafood Industry Council, 06 October 2005

The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council is pleased to see that Biosecurity New Zealand is investigating a confirmed find of the exotic marine pest the 'clubbed tunicate' (sea squirt), Styela clava in two New Zealand locations, said New Zealand Seafood Industry Council Chief Executive Owen Symmans today.

"Sea squirt is a considerable and difficult problem overseas and it is extremely alarming that it has been found in New Zealand harbours," he said. "This could have very serious consequences for aquaculture and the wild shellfish sector."

The industry urged Bio Security New Zealand to act immediately and pledged industry support to identify strategies for eradication of the pest, Mr Symmans said.

"We are very concerned about the discovery of sea squirt and we're very keen to ensure that appropriate action is taken quickly," he said. "It is a very real threat to an important and significant part of our industry."

If you would like more information please contact:

Sarah Crysell
Communications Manager
NZ Seafood Industry Council
Ph: 04 802 1506 or 027 231 7914

Eradicate Sea Squirt With Urgency

Press Release by NZ Aquaculture Council, 06 October 2005

Callum McCallum NZ Aquaculture Council Chair, is calling for Biosecurity New Zealand to immediately eradicate the known infestations of the foreign Sea Squirt discovered in the Viaduct Harbour at Auckland and in Lyttelton Harbour near Christchurch.

He says "Our industry already contributes over $300Million per annum to NZ of supreme seafood products and we are planning for production of over $1Billion per annum, in exports alone, by 2020. This sea squirt is a very serious threat to our industry."

The 'sea squirt', Styela clava, originally from Korea, is a very serious pest in similar marine farming areas overseas where it causes smothering and crop falloff. Once widely established it is very difficult to manage. It could also pose a serious threat to NZ marine ecosystems.

He says "However we remain hopeful since the two known infestations appear to have a limited spread and the organism, while a prolific breeder, is fairly localised in spreading its spawn. However recent experience with human assisted spread, has taught us we must move quickly to eradicate exotic pests such as this. Containment is not an option."

Effective options for eradication do exist including wrapping the infected areas and chemical treatment.

He says "While we fully support Biosecurity NZ's proposals to declare it an unwanted organism and to do a delimiting survey to measure the extent of contamination, we believe these can be done sooner than within one month."

He says "Most importantly however we cannot afford to wait for more than one month until we consider whether to implement any eradication response Eradication is the only proper response at this stage and immediate steps must be taken now, to eradicate the known breeding colonies of this foreign sea squirt. Simultaneously with eradication procedures, Biosecurity NZ can investigate further the extent of the problem and address organisational issues."

He says in conclusion "We need immediate action from Biosecurity New Zealand to eradicate known infestations of this foreign Sea Squirt pest. Industry will act wherever possible to ensure NZ has a successful immediate eradication response".

 

Sea Squirt a Serious Invader

Press release by New Zealand Mussel Industry Council Ltd, 06 October 2005

Marine farmers have reacted strongly to a recent announcement by Biosecurity New Zealand today confirming the discovery of an exotic marine pest Styela clava in Auckland at the Viaduct Harbour and in Lyttelton Harbour in Christchurch.

New Zealand Mussel Industry Council executive officer, Lorna Holton says, ‘This ‘sea squirt', Styela clava, is a serious marine pest overseas and must be seen as an immediate risk to the $200 million Greenshell mussel industry".

"The fact that this sea squirt invader has been located in the Auckland Viaduct and Lyttelton Harbour strongly suggests it has reached New Zealand's borders either in ballast water or attached to the bottom of visiting yachts or ships" she says.

"We expect immediate action from Biosecurity New Zealand in not only identifying the extent of the infestation, but also in arranging a technical response team to oversee the management and an eradication programme before this pest spreads to marine farm growing areas".

"This pest is associated with serious crop losses in marine farms in Nova Scotia where it completely smothers mussel lines and competes for the tiny phytoplankton on which the mussels feed", she said.

"The sea squirt can be a prolific breeder producing strings fertilised eggs and larvae that are set adrift in a mucus string. Colonies can easily over grow the mussels and lines to a point where the mussels can no longer open their bivalve shells to feed. The sea squirts can add a lot of extra weight to the lines and can cause the cultured mussels to be pulled off their lines".

Ends.

For more information contact:

Lorna Holton
Executive Officer
New Zealand Mussel Industry Council
03 548 8944
027 481 8609