Asterias amurensis, or the Northern Pacific seastar is a huge starfish (up to 50cm in diameter) and its favourite food includes mussels, clams, scallops and other shellfish. 

Are you a marine pest pro? Take our 10-question quiz to test your knowledge!

The two exotic caulerpa Controlled Areas (at Aotea/Ahuahu and Te Rāwhiti Inlet) have been extended from their current expiry date of 30 June 2024 to 30 September 2024 to provide time for planning and engagement with affected parties before decisions are made on the longer-term future of any control measures.

K-REN by Factory is an underwater cover for your boat, developed in France and custom made in New Caledonia for the Pacific. The company’s tagline is “Discover the two innovative, eco-friendly, and cost-effective boat hull solutions : K-REN Protect and ZenDock, putting an end to fouling, haul outs, bottoms paints, and divers.”

More than 200 people registered for our Marine Pest ID webinar and some submitted questions that we didn’t have the opportunity to respond to during the event. Here are our responses. 

Clavelina lepadiformis / Lightbulb ascidian, a type of sea squirt or ascidian, is one of the prettiest of the marine pests and it’s raising eyesbrows of boat owners.

The invasive Freshwater Gold Clam (Corbicula) can survive in brackish water at up to half the saltiness of seawater. If you’re going to be in a place where fresh and saltwater mixes, like an estuary, and then to a lake or river, please make sure you follow the Check Clean Dry rules for your boat and gear.

Have you seen the ‘Protect our Paradise’ campaign appear in the last few weeks, from our colleagues at Biosecurity New Zealand? If not, take a look.

Thanks to the hundreds of boat owners that we chatted with at the Hutchwilco Boat Show in Auckland in May.

Watch our marine pest ID webinar on Youtube

The Exotic Caulerpa Accelerated Programme is a programme of work using the recent $5 million funding boost to fast-track the development of caulerpa removal methods and learn more about this invasive pest.

The value of the regular intensive surveillance carried out by Marlborough District Council has proven its worth in March this year with four Mediterranean fanworm discovered and removed from the marina.

A couple of weeks ago, the Marine Pests Teachers’ Workshop was held in Whangārei, with educators and professionals from across the region gathering to delve into the world of marine biosecurity.