Taranaki Didymo Regional Action Plan
Date of Last Review: October 2007
File number: #298275
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction 3
1.1 Purpose 3
1.2 Background 3
1.3 Control methods 4
1.4 Legislation & Responsibilities 4
1.5 Long term management plan 5
1.6 Stakeholders 6
2.0 Impacts of Didymo in Taranaki 7
2.1 Environmental Impacts 7
2.2 Economic Impacts 7
2.3 Cultural & Social Impacts 7
3 Vision, objectives and strategies 8
3.1 Vision 8
3.2 Objectives 8
3.3 Actions to achieve objectives 8
3.3.1 Operational procedures 8
3.3.2 Public Awareness 9
3.2.3 Regional Coordination 9
3.2.4 Surveillance and monitoring 9
3.2.5 Regional incursion response 10
3.2.6 Ongoing Management 10
4. Risk Assessment 12
4.1 Management Levels 12
4.2 Value Scores 12
4.3 Risk Scores 13
4.4 Risk Assessment / Prioritisation 13
4.5 Didymo Response Alert Status 14
5.0 Appendices 15
Appendix I: Cleaning Protocols: 16
Appendix II: Public Awareness Programme 20
Appendix III: Surveillance and Monitoring Programme 5
Appendix IV: Risk assessment spreadsheet 6
Appendix V: Didymo Incursion plan for Taranaki 8
1.0 Introduction
This Regional Didymo Response Plan is an initiative of the Taranaki Didymo Regional Group, a group of representatives from local agencies and stakeholders with a common interest in maintaining Taranaki free from didymo. The following groups are represented on the Taranaki Didymo Regional Group:
· Taranaki Regional Council
· Taranaki Fish & Game
· Department of Conservation (DOC) – New Plymouth and Stratford Areas, Wanganui Conservancy
· Venture Taranaki
· Trust Power
· Taranaki Iwi
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to establish a coordinated and consistent approach to the prevention of didymo and to detail preparedness, incursion response and ongoing management strategies. This is a living document and as such, will be updated as the risk of didymo establishment locally, changes.
Management of didymo under this response plan has three distinct parts:
· Prevention and preparedness
· Incursion response
· Ongoing management
Close liaison will be maintained with Biosecurity NZ and with neighbouring Regional Partner Groups to ensure a consistent approach to didymo management across the North Island.
The Taranaki Didymo Regional Group will meet regularly to review local management and surveillance activity and to ensure all required didymo management tasks within the region are allocated, resourced and actioned in a timely manner, consistent with national requirements.
1.2 Background
Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata), colloquially known as ‘rock snot’, is native to northern Europe and is also found in North America. It was first discovered in New Zealand in October 2004 and has now spread to multiple rivers across the South Island, but has not been detected in the North Island.
Didymo is a fresh water invasive algae (diatom) that is only visible when blooming and is otherwise microscopic, making it difficult to detect. It prefers moderate flowing, clear cool rivers and is spread from one waterway to another by a single microscopic cell. The cells ‘hitchhike’ on equipment such as boats, fishing gear and trailers and once in a waterway, disperse and multiply rapidly, provided conditions are suitable.
Didymo attaches itself to the stream bed by its multiple stalks, producing a dense brown, carpet like layer that smothers rocks, submerged plants and other materials crucial to native invertebrates, fish and birds.
The effects of didymo on freshwater sites and species in New Zealand are inconclusive and will not be known until didymo has been here for sometime.
What is clear is that the large, extensive algal blooms are unsightly, contribute a significant biomass in the rivers and are highly likely to impact on ecosystem functioning.
The response to didymo being detected in New Zealand has been based on a precautionary principle approach until the full effects are known.
1.3 Control methods
Once established, didymo is virtually impossible to eradicate. Although research into an effective control mechanism is still ongoing and largely unproven, NIWA has had some encouraging results using chelated copper. In laboratory conditions, this compound was not only effective at killing didymo, but also had little impact on indigenous flora and fauna and trout. As a consequence of these results, field trials have recently been undertaken in the South Island.
Until more conclusive results are confirmed, ERMA has approved the use of chelated copper in emergency situations only. It must be stressed that the copper control tool will almost certainly not enable didymo to be eradicated from rivers where it is currently present. It may however, be effective in controlling didymo at key locations or enable a new incursion to be treated if it is detected early enough. With that said, prevention still remains the best form of management.
1.4 Legislation & Responsibilities
The Biosecurity Act 1993 deals with the management of unintentional introductions of new organisms or other organisms declared to be unwanted and under management in this country. Under the Act, Biosecurity New Zealand are the lead agency for any unwanted organism response and as such, undertakes whatever activities are required to manage a response based on their incursion response protocols. Other partners are then legally required to carry out instructions from BNZ.
Didymo has been declared an ‘unwanted organism’ under the Biosecurity Act 1993 with penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $100,000.
On 9 December 2005 the South Island was declared a ‘controlled area’ (under the Act). Implications of this are:
a) there is a legal requirement to clean equipment that has been exposed to river or lake water when leaving the South Island, before entering another water-body outside the South Island;
b) there is a legal requirement to clean equipment that has been exposed to Didymo affected water-bodies;
c) all water-bodies should be treated as if they contain Didymo and therefore equipment should be cleaned when moving between water-bodies.
Please refer to the pdf below for more information on the South Island controlled area and what items require decontamination treatment.
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/pests-diseases/plants/didymo/controlled-area.pdf
While Biosecurity New Zealand has responsibility for any incursion response, actions related to initial prevention and ongoing management of didymo should it establish, fall on local agencies and stakeholders.
Currently there is no legal requirement to clean equipment between water-bodies other than those mandated under ‘Controlled Area’ status. It is however, illegal to knowingly spread unwanted organisms (with penalties of up to five years imprisonment and/or $100,000 fine). It is therefore critical to clean equipment between water-bodies to prevent didymo being knowingly spread.
1.5 Long term management plan
Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) has prepared a Didymo Long-Term Management Programme[1]. The intended outcome is that:
‘The impacts of didymo are reduced by organizations and individuals with a freshwater interest working collectively in areas where they can be most effective.’
The objectives for the joint programme between BNZ and regional partners are to:
· Slow the spread of didymo
· Protect high valued sites and at risk species
· Mitigate impacts of didymo on affected sectors and
· Maintain the North Island free of didymo for as long as possible.
The activities being undertaken by BNZ to support regional programmes are:
· Surveying sites (last national survey took place in late April 07) and training field staff
· Financing people on the ground for social marketing over summer to the value of $20K
· Running feasibility trials for control tools – e.g. chelated copper trial
· Establishing a national surveillance database for use and information sharing between partners
· Updating the ‘likely environments map’ which models the suitability of NZ environments for didymo establishment (this is due by the end of June 07)
· Establishing sampling and analysis protocols for use by all laboratories
· Undertaking research – e.g. into impact, survival.
BNZ is committed to providing funding for national coordination of the long-term management programme, leadership and support of a social marketing programme and executing its regulatory responsibilities – e.g. NZ international border, controlled areas. They will bid to central Government for resources to complete current research initiatives – e.g. chelated copper trial, ‘seed money’ to allow partners time to establish funding streams through 07-08 if they thought it a priority and to identify and refine assessment techniques for surveillance.
BNZ’s preliminary longer term goals at the programme’s full implementation (June 2008) include:
· Field operations being led by regional partners
· Didymo being monitored within existing partner programmes
· Social marketing messages being integrated into partner programmes with a focus on personal responsibility
· BNZ’s ongoing involvement including social marketing and LTM co-ordination
· Long term management with partner steering group supported by the Biosecurity NZ Pest Management Group (through the appointment of a long term management coordinator (Lesley Wilson), a social marketing coordinator (similar to the aquatic pest awareness position previously carried out by Anne Brow, DOC and North Island (Steve Smith) and South Island (Jeff Donaldson) coordinators) and
· A wider focus for the programme to include other aquatic pests, where appropriate.
1.6 Stakeholders
The key stakeholders in relation to the didymo issue are: Taranaki Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Fish & Game, Iwi, Trust Power, irrigators, Venture Taranaki and tourism ventures, District Councils: New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki, community groups and recreation groups. Appendix II (Public Awareness Plan) lists all the relevant community and recreational groups.
2.0 Impacts of Didymo in Taranaki
Didymo poses a major threat to New Zealand’s fresh water environment by affecting recreational, social & cultural, environmental (biodiversity) and economic values. A few catchments within Taranaki have been classified by BNZ as amongst the highest risk site for didymo incursion in the North Island.
2.1 Environmental Impacts
Didymo has the potential to adversely affect indigenous fauna, valued introduced species & ecosystem function. Risk species include blue duck, koaro, eels and trout.
2.2 Economic Impacts
Didymo has the potential to adversely impact on the following economic activites:
· Tourism
· Hydro power generation
· Fisheries
· Sports fishing industry
· Irrigation
2.3 Cultural & Social Impacts
Didymo has the potential to adversely impact on the following cultural activites:
· Cultural & spiritual values for local Iwi and other communities
· Trout fishing
· Water based recreation
3 Vision, objectives and strategies
3.1 Vision
The long term vision for Taranaki is:
“Taranaki remains free of didymo even if it became more widespread in the South Island and even if it successfully established elsewhere in the North Island”
3.2 Objectives
1. To ensure operational activity by stakeholder agencies does not spread or lead to the establishment of didymo in and around Taranaki.
2. To minimise the risk of public activity spreading or leading to the establishment of didymo in and around Taranaki.
3. To provide a co-ordinated approach to didymo across stakeholder agencies and groups in Taranaki and the wider North Island, and to support all stakeholder agencies and groups in their efforts to prevent the spread of didymo.
4. To put in place a routine surveillance monitoring regime at high risk, high priority sites to ensure the earliest possible detection of any didymo incursions within the region.
5. To ensure informed procedures are in place to respond effectively to a Taranaki incursion.
6. To provide a long-term direction for Taranaki to maintain the North Island free of didymo for as long as possible and, should didymo occur, reduce the impacts on high value sites and risk species within the region.
3.3 Actions to achieve objectives
3.3.1 Operational procedures
Objective 1: To ensure operational activity by stakeholder agencies does not spread or lead to the establishment of didymo in and around Taranaki.
This will be achieved by:
· Adopting cleaning protocol templates for key agencies and organisations to adopt (Appendix I)[TRC,DOC,F&G]
· Adjusting work plans to reduce the need to enter waterways, or to enter them in such a way as to minimise the risk of didymo spread)[TRC,DOC,F&G]
3.3.2 Public Awareness
Objective 2: To minimise the risk of public activity spreading or leading to the establishment of didymo in and around Taranaki.
This will be achieved by:
· Run a coordinated annual social marketing programme (for details see Appendix II)[TRC to coordinate]
· Distribute information, provide advice and advocate safe cleaning practices to the public [TRC,DOC visitor centres, F&G]
· Ensure didymo conditions are applied to any concession/permit/resource consent where the activity comes into contact with a fresh waterway(s) [DOC,TRC]
3.2.3 Regional Coordination
Objective 3: To provide a co-ordinated approach to didymo across stakeholder agencies and groups in Taranaki and the wider North Island, and to support all stakeholder agencies and groups in their efforts to prevent the spread of didymo.
This will be achieved by:
· Establishing the Taranaki Regional Didymo Group and developing an agreed Regional Action Plan (this document), including a multi-agency incursion response plan (Appendix V) [TRDG]
· Convene TRDG regularly and ensure good communication between representatives on the group [TRC to facilitate]
· Work collaboratively with other regional groups (such as Central North Island regional group, Wellington/Horizons regional group), other agencies (e.g. BNZ), sharing information and resources
· Coordinate pre-incursion discussions by participating in North Island simulation exercises etc.
· Develop, strengthen & maintain relationships and networks.
· Disseminate procedures for responding to a North Island incursion
· Build response capacity through identifying resourcing needs and resource availability.
3.2.4 Surveillance and monitoring
Objective 4: To put in place a routine surveillance monitoring regime at high risk, high priority sites to ensure the earliest possible detection of any didymo incursions within the region.
This will be achieved by:
· Identifying priority sites for surveillance monitoring and prepare and implement surveillance plan (Appendix III) [TRC,DOC, F&G]
· Allocating responsibility for undertaking the sampling, analysis & reporting
· Building capacity to allow surveillance requirements to be met.
· Training staff for collection and analysis.
· Obtaining sufficient supplies of suitable equipment (nets).
3.2.5 Regional incursion response[2]
Objective 5: To ensure informed procedures are in place to respond effectively to a Taranaki incursion.
This will be achieved by:
· Prepare and disseminate procedure for responding to a North Island/Taranaki incursion (Appendix V)
· Keep details in response procedure current
· Discuss procedure with stakeholders and identify best practice options
· Clarify multi agency roles in responding to a Taranaki incursion
· Identify resources and build capacity
3.2.6 Ongoing Management
Objective 6: To provide a long-term direction for Taranaki to maintain the North Island free of didymo for as long as possible and, should didymo occur, reduce the impacts on high value sites and risk species within the region.