Biosecurity magazine - Biosecurity New Zealand

MARINE
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gathering information on biofouling
amounts, locations and species. Diving
teams record and collect organisms
found on the hulls, which are later
identified by experts (Figures 1, 2 and
3). The captain is given a questionnaire
that asks for information on the boat’s
characteristics (for example, length and
cruising speed), maintenance regime
(such as type of antifouling paint and
date of last clean) and voyage history
(last 20 ports and dates of layover).
This data will be analysed for trends
that may help prevent future arrivals
of non-indigenous animals in
New Zealand through biofouling.
A review of marine biofouling,
non-indigenous marine species, and
their impacts is presented by MAFBNZ
Adviser, Risk Analysis (Marine)
Dr Andrew Bell on page 6. General
trends of vessel biofouling from
analysis so far are also presented, as
well as recent developments and
thinking in the sphere of vessel
biofouling.
Although biofouling on the bottom
of vessels is known to have introduced
non-indigenous species into
New Zealand and around the world,
little research has been done on it.
“This is the first study of its kind in the
world to comprehensively look at
biofouling across vessel types,”
MAFBNZ Senior Adviser, Risk Analysis
(Marine) Dr Daniel Kluza says.
MAFBNZ’s work not only benefits
New Zealand but is also feeding into
international attempts to understand
the issues and risks involved in
biofouling, for example, the Biofouling
Correspondence group of the
International Maritime Organisation
(see page 3).
■
Simon Philips. Adviser, Risk Analysis (Marine),
MAFBNZ, simon.philips@maf.govt.nz
Figure 1: Fishing boat at dock, being refuelled and about to be surveyed for the Vessel Biofouling project.
Figure 2: Scuba divers taking photo-quadrats on the boat’s hull.
Figure 3: A patch of biofouling on an area of clean hull. The white squiggles are shell tubes of worms.
All photos courtesy of Cawthron Institute.
MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 17