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Caulerpa now in BOI


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42 minutes ago, khayyam said:

Wow, check out the headline, only due to Ngati Manuhiri and no-one else. Strewth, they'll be funding everything themselves then?

It is nice to have a good news story BUT, they have eliminated one clump.

The other thing I am unsure of, is if the water visibility has been suitable for a proper search. We are in winter (obviously) and have had nothing but N'East or easterlies, big rain events and absolutely zero settled weather with regard to letting water viz clear. I may be wrong, I haven't been spearfishing myself for some time, so the viz may be better than I realise but I doubt it.

The point being, you can't say it's not there just cause you can't see it (when looking in porridge). Being that if you can't see your hand at the end of your arm, how can you see there is no caulerpa?

I'd say lost, not eradicated.

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Northland Regional Council (NRC) confirmed this week that caulerpa had been found at six new locations in the eastern Bay of Islands Ipipiri island group, about six kilometres from Paihia.

It has been found at Urupukapuka Island’s major boating anchorages Paradise Bay and Otiao Bay (Entico Bay) and Moturua Island’s Army Bay as well at two locations around adjacent Motukiekie Island.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/03/millions-thrown-at-bay-of-islands-caulerpa-control-as-pest-seaweed-spreads/

Wonder what they'll do now. The current anchoring ban makes little sense if it's widespread outside omakiwi (as always seemed likely).

 

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I think the only way to stop it, which may ultimately prove unsuccessful anyway, is an all out war with $Billions and $Billions from the Government.  That may mean essentially closing down the areas affected and near areas affected, so the $Billions are not just on the eradication scheme but also compensation for businesses affected from the loss of marine tourism.

But - can you see that happening with the current three headed monster running the ship?  They won't even part out the $ for a decent set of Ferries for Cook Strait.

And no mods,not trying to turn this political, just stating out how hopeless it is going to be on all fronts trying to stop caulerpa.

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How come sense applies in Auckland, where we're free to anchor in infected areas and are asked to simply check our anchors and collect/ dispose, or dump the weed where we found it, yet in the BOI they just close down the anchorages. In other words Auckland has an educational ,reasonable, workable response, Bay of Islands a draconian one.

If there was just one success in the Bay, if they just cleared and opened one of the closed anchorages after all this money and all this effort, they'd have support. But they can't even do that. Not one of the areas closed what 2? 3 ? years ago has been opened. Omakiwi isn't that big. Millions.

We need the same attitude in the BOI, education and a request to boaties to clear their anchors. Open the bays back up.

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Usually people check their anchors as a matter of course when retrieving, especially yachties. Launches not so much due to the tendency to have more automated systems but I cant recall a time that I had any kind of weed stuck on the anchor that wasnt removed immediately and pulling weed up is not so common, now mud that's another story! 

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13 hours ago, John B said:

How come sense applies in Auckland, where we're free to anchor in infected areas and are asked to simply check our anchors and collect/ dispose, or dump the weed where we found it, yet in the BOI they just close down the anchorages. In other words Auckland has an educational ,reasonable, workable response, Bay of Islands a draconian one.

If there was just one success in the Bay, if they just cleared and opened one of the closed anchorages after all this money and all this effort, they'd have support. But they can't even do that. Not one of the areas closed what 2? 3 ? years ago has been opened. Omakiwi isn't that big. Millions.

We need the same attitude in the BOI, education and a request to boaties to clear their anchors. Open the bays back up.

Understand the levels of angst - in all locations - but all it takes is one boat to spread it.
The education (and and on-site presence a lot of the time) has been there in the Bay. The quote below is from an article just over a year ago (linked further down).
The way it has progressively found its way around the Hauraki Gulf, from my perspective, doesn't support the idea that the Auckland approach is resulting in a better outcome. But less inconvenient, yes.

' "One boat we spoke to in Omākiwi brought up a huge half-metre-long clump of caulerpa on its anchor. Because of the way its anchor well was positioned, they wouldn't have seen it [if the kaitiaki hadn't been there as the anchor was lifted]."

The boat went on from Omākiwi Cove to other locations in the Bay of Islands including Deep Water Cove and the Ipipiri Islands. '

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/508904/70-boats-illegally-anchored-in-bay-of-islands-caulerpa-ban-area-over-summer

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There is a really interesting map on this page that shows where it has and hasn't been found. It must need updating as none of the new BOI locations are included. 

https://www.marinepests.nz/interactive-caulerpa-map

Interesting that it is not in the popular anchorages put more in the high current areas. 

Also interesting that the top of Coromandel and bottom of great barrier have it everywhere. Seems like an easy spot for it to spread via currents to all of the gulf. 

image.png.6574aa27aeef4987af80e22a71bb86d2.png

 

 

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19 hours ago, Adrianp said:

There is a really interesting map on this page that shows where it has and hasn't been found. It must need updating as none of the new BOI locations are included. 

https://www.marinepests.nz/interactive-caulerpa-map

Interesting that it is not in the popular anchorages put more in the high current areas. 

Also interesting that the top of Coromandel and bottom of great barrier have it everywhere. Seems like an easy spot for it to spread via currents to all of the gulf. 

image.png.6574aa27aeef4987af80e22a71bb86d2.png

 

 

Thanks for the map link, didn't know about that. Will be interesting to see the updated version in BoI. In general, it certainly it isn't a map of popular anchorages. 

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On 4/03/2025 at 3:27 PM, John B said:

How come sense applies in Auckland, where we're free to anchor in infected areas 

Great Barrier is part of Auckland. 

The question should be why Waiheke and Rakino gets exemption from the rules....

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6 hours ago, motorb said:

Great Barrier is part of Auckland. 

The question should be why Waiheke and Rakino gets exemption from the rules....

Because rich toffs that have Riviera type stinkpots live there?

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5 hours ago, Zozza said:

Because rich toffs that have Riviera type stinkpots live there?

Yeah thats right Zozz, no junk rigged yachts there. Wonder why that is?

Must be them! Evil rich toffs and their stinkpots...

 

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1 hour ago, BNG said:

Yeah thats right Zozz, no junk rigged yachts there. Wonder why that is?

Must be them! Evil rich toffs and their stinkpots...

 

I'm sure this has been spotted over there earlier in the summer..


image.thumb.png.b5ed9d2422f18d731752cfc0b750ed71.png
 

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