Yacht biosecurity back in spotlight

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The Ministry for Primary Industries plans to turn the biosecurity spotlight on international yachts visiting Northland this season.

Last season MPI introduced a range of new biosecurity checks following two Queensland fruit fly finds in Whangarei.

“On the whole, the yachting community is very good at following New Zealand’s biosecurity requirements, but last season showed there is value in providing more education and more layers of protection,” says Sharon Tohovaka, MPI’s North Ports Manager.

This season (from October to December) there will be four extra staff based in the region to carry out biosecurity inspections, says Ms Tohovaka.

And following successful trials last season, biosecurity dog teams will be used to help check selected vessels for undeclared food, plants and other risk goods that could carry pests and diseases.

Naval and aerial surveillance will also start in October to ensure vessels do not make landfall in New Zealand before they arrive at Opua or Marsden Cove (the only approved places for yachts to arrive in Northland).

“We need to make sure that yachts are clean before they start exploring the region or other parts of New Zealand.”

MPI has also been working to raise the level of biosecurity awareness among the yacht community, says Ms Tohovaka, who has just returned from a visit to Fiji to speak with yachties intending to sail to New Zealand.

“The two main yacht gathering points in the South Pacific are Musket Cove in Fiji and Vava'u in Tonga.

“Last season we sent officers to these locations to answer questions about New Zealand’s biosecurity rules. It was a very useful exercise for building biosecurity awareness.”