Caulerpa now in BOI

[K4309 439]

If we could just add this to the emissions trading scheme, sell carbon credits to the US and Europe, we'd make squillions of dollars. Perhaps even enough to build a new hospital in Dunedin.

Jokes aside, this is carbon sequestration at it's finest. Sometimes nature has it's own way of finding balance.

[Psyche 879]

Things change, one of the underlying assumptions when we view the natural world is that its "in balance" except for us pesky humans who are not part of nature but somehow outside the environment 🤣 The reality is that the world is always changing, Kauri forests grow up, get burnt down, dinosaurs existed then poof they are gone, the earth rises and sinks, earthquakes, floods, volcanos, ice ages and now caulerpa in NZ. How did it get here? One can only guess. Can we manage it? maybe, perhaps technology is the answer but what is certain is the environment that supports it is going to change eventually. I trust that MPI can implement a management plan to prevent further spread as much as possible. I'm a bit salty on the dredge idea but maybe it can mitigate growth in some of the heavily infested areas, that and a bit of hand weeding, UV treatment or even genetically modified greeblies to eat it? 

+

[waikiore 507]

Imagine if you could feed it to dairy cows , replace palm kernel with it.....  Actually there are a lot of people making money out of it already -though none have stopped the spread.

[eruptn 111]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BVCeecbTH/

DoC acknowledge storms spread weed: 

Since 2021 it’s been found in Hauraki Gulf and Northland as well as the top of Coromandel Peninsula. Modelling shows it could spread and establish as far south as East Cape.

Unfortunately, exotic caulerpa spreads very well in storm events through the movement of fragments and larger broken-off chunks.

 

[Psyche 879]

Clearly they should ban storms in the area

[Guest 141]

And tides.

[Psyche 879]

Looking at the future of exotic caulerpa Controlled Area Notices Biosecurity New Zealand is inviting interested groups and individuals to provide input into a review of the Controlled Area Notices (CANs) that are being used to prevent spread of exotic caulerpa through human activities. There are currently CANs in place at five locations: Aotea Great Barrier Island, Ahuahu Great Mercury Island, Waiheke Island, Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island and Te Rāwhiti Inlet in the Bay of Islands, Northland. They vary but generally place some restriction on anchoring and fishing as these are high-risk activities for spreading this pest. All these CANs will expire on 30 September 2025, and Biosecurity New Zealand is seeking feedback on three potential options. These are: ·       Option 1 – No CANs and public information encouraging good biosecurity practices ·       Option 2 – Status quo – CANs for infested areas that meet certain criteria, with varying restrictions ·       Option 3 – A cross-regional CAN covering the habitable range for exotic caulerpa requiring checking and cleaning anchors and equipment ("Bag It, Bin It"). With this option, there could be stricter controls in specific high-risk zones You can see details of the current CANs and information about the review at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa-rules Detailed information about the review To provide feedback, use this online form   Please let me know if you would like to discuss further Many thanks Sophia   Sophia White | Programme Manager  - Caulerpa | Pest Management Group - Korowai o te Pūnehu Pest Management Directorate | Biosecurity New Zealand - Tiakitanga Pūtaiao Aotearoa Ministry for Primary Industries - Manatū Ahu Matua Telephone: 04 831 4975 | Mobile: 022-012-6871 | Web: www.biosecurity.govt.nz I work part-time hours and am typically not available on Tuesdays

[Zozza 372]

Option 1  - they need to get real and live with it and educate, but cut the banning anchoring crap.
Latest evidence I heard / read sometime ago, is natural currents are way more effective in spreading it than an anchor ever could be.

[Island Time 1,337]

Done the response form...

[aardvarkash10 1,147]

Done.  Conflicted.

 

"I don't have sufficient information to make a truly informed choice.  However, it seems that the status quo has not significantly limited the spread of caulerpa since its initial discovery.  This most likely (in the absence of solid research) means that normal ocean currents are primarily responsible for its spread.  Fragments from anchoring and other activities may accelerate this, but even a total ban on any activity is not likely to stop the spread - the best we can hope for is to slow it down.

Given this, I support an appropriate cross-regional CAN that requires specific precautionary behaviours eg checking / cleaning ground tackle etc.  I would not support a CAN that required closure of an area EXCEPT where the closure was for the purpose of eradicating caulerpa in that area.  

I do note that this is likely an expensive option to effectively police and maintain.  If sufficient budget is not available to effectively police and maintain this option, I would revert to Option 1. "

[Psyche 879]

Done

[Bad Kitty 341]

Yep done mine.

Took some time out from my arduous schedule.