Caulerpa now in BOI

[Psyche 537]

Its normal to overreact and be fearful of what we don't understand. Caulerpa is here to stay probably, over time nature will have its way and it will fit into the ecosystem. My observation is that we operate under this paradigm that NZ was paradise before humans came along and interfered and that paradise must be restored by limiting human impact so everything can return to "balance".  I dont buy it, nature is brutal and things change all the time and in this case the arrival of new aquatic plant. Best thing is an education campaign to limit the spread and raise awareness. If its really that bad then the authorities will need to limit anchoring over some pretty big areas.

[harrytom 618]

Well this is not out public yet? The Shyte will be hitting the fan soon

From my Nephew

Mussel farms in firth for sale ..the guy that brings our mussels said the calupra has spreed to the farms..said mussels will go up over 10 dollars a kilo

[harrytom 618]

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/long-term-biosecurity-management-programmes/fall-armyworm-in-new-zealand/

Another MPI fail. Army worm,detected 20222 but did nothing

[Lindsay 32]

Anyone know if caulerpa makes it difficult to anchor?

[K4309 145]

4 hours ago, Lindsay said:

Anyone know if caulerpa makes it difficult to anchor?

Depends if there is a Controlled Area Notice in place or not.

If there is, it is very difficult to anchor.

Or, do you mean that if there is caulerpa present, is it hard to get your anchor to set?

Haven't tried it, due to the legal ramifications, but I've never had any issues when I've inadvertently anchored in sea-grass. Pulled up half a meadow last time But I am running a sarca-excel. They set extremely well, like backing down on a brick wall. Some legend called Fish did a trial once with an old plough and an Excel at Arkles Bay. It's posted around here somewhere. The plough wouldn't set at all (dragged up and down the beach). The excel set in 1 &1/2 times the anchor length, and wouldn't budge.

In short, if you have a good anchoring set up, I wouldn't worry about weed fouling it. If you are worried about weed fouling it, upgrade your anchoring set up. It will foul on a scollop shell if it is that bad.

 

Edit, here is the link to Fish's post on the anchor performance at Arkles

 

[Lindsay 32]

14 hours ago, K4309 said:

Or, do you mean that if there is caulerpa present, is it hard to get your anchor to set?

Yup that’s what I meant!
The thought of every bay being covered in a thick mat of the stuff is pretty disturbing. I’ve got a Rocna set-up but it might struggle to penetrate Caulerpa …

[Guest 49]

The whole idea is not to set your anchor in caulerpa, breaking it up and exacerbating the spread. So is the question not somewhat academic and currently illegal?

[Lindsay 32]

17 minutes ago, Guest said:

The whole idea is not to set your anchor in caulerpa, breaking it up and exacerbating the spread. So is the question not somewhat academic and currently illegal?

I’m not intending to anchor anywhere near the stuff. But if in a few years it spreads to every damn bay, and if it is no longer feasible to try and control the spread by implementing restrictions, the next question will be can anchors even penetrate it?

[K4309 145]

6 hours ago, Lindsay said:

I’m not intending to anchor anywhere near the stuff. But if in a few years it spreads to every damn bay, and if it is no longer feasible to try and control the spread by implementing restrictions, the next question will be can anchors even penetrate it?

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm no expert, but I do like spear fishing and snorkelling around anchorages. Caulerpa (according to the photos) is a fine leafed algae. Not like echlonia which has thicker rubbery leaves (but not that big). echlonia is the sea weed that is brown / golden and has thick stalks about 1 to 2 feet long. Washes up after storms. Only grows on rocks so not an issue for anchoring.

I.e. caulerpa is the complete opposite of things like bull kelp that grow in thick, leathery leaves, the type of thing I imagine would stop an anchor pick setting into a sand or mud bottom. It appears to be more thin like a sea grass. I understand caulerpa forms thick balls or sausages. For this to stop anchoring, it would have to physically hold the anchor off the bottom. If you set your anchor, by backing down, I would expect the anchor pick (tip) to roll off a sausage and onto the sea floor. That, and I'd be really concerned if your anchor wasn't heavy enough to push through some salad on the sea floor. Caulerpa Brachypus is known as sea mustard. 

Then, your type of anchor may influence things. The Excell has a downward facing pick (like a concord aircraft nose) AND has sharp blade like planes at the point, to dig in to shell type bottoms. These sharp blade like planes should cut through caulerpa easy. A plough style anchor, would be about as useless as the Labour govt (opps, not allowed to mention politics). But the presences of sea mustard isn't going to affect that. Refer to that legend Fish's photos of the plough V excel trial at Arkles.

If you back down and your anchor sets, it has set. Sleep well. If it doesn't set, you need to re-set it. If you don't back down on your anchor, you are a fool. Or you own a launch. Either way, I wouldn't worry about caulerpa affecting your anchor setting, provided you have a good anchor and know how to set it. The biggest issue is MPI banning anchoring, and I suspect, cleaning the sea mustard off your anchor every time you move.

 

Refer to the link for a photo of a 16kg #4 Excel anchor for what I'm twattling on about

16kg Excel Anchor No4 (chainsropesandanchors.co.nz)

[Lindsay 32]

Thanks K4309! 

[harrytom 618]

Bugger me another species thats unwanted is now in the Waikato river.

Asian clams'

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/call-for-community-vigilance-as-new-clam-species-found-in-waikato-river/

Initial checks have found the freshwater gold clam present over a 45-kilometre stretch of the Waikato River, from 1.5km upstream of Bob’s Landing, just upstream of Lake Karāpiro, and downriver to Hamilton.

Mr Anderson says the plan now is to search further, both within the Waikato River and in other rivers and lakes that are linked through human activity.

[CarpeDiem 356]

The reports coming out of Northland indicate that the finding at Omakiwi Cove is probably ground zero for New Zealand's Caulerpa infestation. 

It was called out previsouly in this thread that Caulerpa was very possibly transferred to Great Barrier from a yet to be determined location in NZ. 

Looks like the authorities may have found that location...

This now starts to give more credence to the Aquarium theory, introduced into the storm water by a BOI resident.  The finding certainly doesn't rule out the more likely anchor theory.   Particularly that BOI is the obvious first stopping point for any vessel coming in from overseas location where Caulerpa has a stronghold. 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/caulerpa-invasive-seaweed-omakiwi-cove-bay-of-islands-anchor-ban-as-government-response-ramps-up/GMGRQX4D2NDS7D56DW5HXCWDU4/

[Ex Machina 340]

7 minutes ago, CarpeDiem said:

The reports coming out of Northland indicate that the finding at Omakiwi Cove is probably ground zero for New Zealand's Caulerpa infestation. 

It was called out previsouly in this thread that Caulerpa was very possibly transferred to Great Barrier from a yet to be determined location in NZ. 

Looks like the authorities may have found that location...

This now starts to give more credence to the Aquarium theory, introduced into the storm water by a BOI resident.  The finding certainly doesn't rule out the more likely anchor theory.   Particularly that BOI is the obvious first stopping point for any vessel coming in from overseas location where Caulerpa has a stronghold. 

Cruise ship anchor ? Where they anchor in the roads off Tapeka is a great distribution point , the current fangs out of there . Plus cruise ship passages are measured in days not weeks so greater chance of the stuff being nice and fresh 

[mischief 3]

maybe a superyacht anchor if the omakiwi / rawhiti area is ground zero?

[Steve Pope 243]

1 hour ago, mischief said:

maybe a superyacht anchor if the omakiwi / rawhiti area is ground zero?

Guess as much as you like! We will never know! Though I think it well suits the Bureaucrats to blame yachties, we are a reasonably widely dispersed group, without a voice, or organisation, who would put their head above the breakwater to speak on our behalf.!!

[Ex Machina 340]

2 hours ago, Steve Pope said:

Guess as much as you like! We will never know! Though I think it well suits the Bureaucrats to blame yachties, we are a reasonably widely dispersed group, without a voice, or organisation, who would put their head above the breakwater to speak on our behalf.!!

We need someone inside NIWA or NRC who’s an avid boatie 

[K4309 145]

5 hours ago, Steve Pope said:

Guess as much as you like! We will never know! Though I think it well suits the Bureaucrats to blame yachties, we are a reasonably widely dispersed group, without a voice, or organisation, who would put their head above the breakwater to speak on our behalf.!!

If only we could get all our boating clubs to join together in some sort of Federation...

[Ex Machina 340]

9 hours ago, K4309 said:

If only we could get all our boating clubs to join together in some sort of Federation...

Well we already have YNZ . They could hire someone with clout and funnel some funds into that ? There’s a prominent QC that sails and the omakiwi infestation is outside his front door . Come to think of it the affected area is right outside some very influential characters front door , all who have boats with anchors . That area is basically a who’s who of NZ and offshore big business … Maybe the big people could could help out the little people ? 

[Bad Kitty 218]

On 2/06/2023 at 12:41 PM, Guest said:

The whole idea is not to set your anchor in caulerpa, breaking it up and exacerbating the spread. So is the question not somewhat academic and currently illegal?

Well that's gonna be a problem given that it's difficult to know if it's there until after you have anchored? And if it's as bad as reported it's shortly going to be in every bay in the Hauraki Gulf, the Bay of Islands, & Gt Barrier?

[K4309 145]

2 hours ago, Ex Machina said:

Well we already have YNZ . 

That is my point. But aren't they only in charge of Olympic medals?

I guess I was using 'the lowest form of wit' to highlight the shortcommings of YNZ. Given the existential threat to hardstands and haulout facilities nationally, AYBA are doing the heavy lifting on that in Auckland, and they get something like $3.56 in my annual club subs, while YNZ get something like $40 or $50. Entirely ineffective organisation with a 'job for life' CEO.