Marine pests are plants or animals that originate from overseas and have aggressive growth or feeding habits that pose a threat to our underwater environments, seafood stocks or aquaculture potential.
Large clusters of unwanted marine pests such as fanworms or sea squirts can also cause costly and unsightly damage to boat equipment, wharves and other marine structures.
Most marine traffic entering the Bay of Plenty originates from Auckland or Northland and pose a risk to our region as both of those areas host populations of marine pests (such as Mediterranean fanworm and clubbed tunicate sea squirt) that are not yet established in the Bay of Plenty.
If pest-infested boats moor in the Bay and the pests are knocked off or allowed to spawn here, they could spread quickly and become difficult to control or eradicate.