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tuesday 14 May 2019
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Hard lessons
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Pest invasion threat Paula Hulburt Reporter
paula@marlboroughmedia.co.nz
Biosecurity bosses are battling to contain a pest that could prove catastrophic to Marlborough’s multimillion-dollar aquaculture industry.
Marlborough District Council’s biosecurity unit were called in following the discovery of hundreds of invasive pest species. The worst case of Mediterranean Fanworm ever found in Marlborough was uncovered on a boat moored at Waikawa Marina. While the pest species was imme-
diately destroyed, staff now face an arduous task as more were found on the seabed. Mediterranean Fanworm will readily settle on mussel growout lines and may reduce mussel growth by altering water flow around the lines and competing with mussels for suspended food.
Council biosecurity manager Jono Underwood says the find poses a serious threat to both the region’s salmon and mussel industries. “It can colonise any structure in the water and has a massive filtering factor. “Not only will it compete for
space, it will filter food before it gets to the mussels,” he says. The sea scourge has only ever been found in Marlborough in low numbers. Only a dozen had previously been discovered, says Jono.
SEE PAGE 2
Picton crossing joy
Picton School principal Dave Sullivan is delighted his pupils have a safer place to cross the road. Photo: Paula Hulburt.
FULL STORY PAGE 3
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