Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

Levels of hull-fouling plants and animals growing on foreign yachts are literally under the spotlight.

Over the next two years, staff from NIWA and the Cawthron Institute will be diving under the hulls of yachts arriving in New Zealand to photograph, video, and collect samples of non-indigenous species hitching rides into New Zealand’s coastal waters. The sampling on yachts is part of a major Biosecurity New Zealand research project which includes a wide range of vessel types. The project builds on earlier NIWA research, such as the development of a ‘fouling index’ (for ranking the extent and severity of fouling on yacht hulls) which is incorporated into the study. NIWA will identify the species collected, using in-house and external taxonomic experts.

Fifteen yachts have been surveyed at selected ports since August. The results are yet to be analysed.