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A joint-agency response to the discovery of Undaria pinnatifida, a marine pest, in the pristine waters of Fiordland is proving successful on several fronts. Undaria is an invasive Asian seaweed, originally from the waters around Japan, Korea and China, where it is known as Wakame and grown as an important food crop. The plant grows well in estuarine conditions unlike native New Zealand species. Undaria was first discovered in New Zealand waters in 1987. It is now found in most ports and easily spreads attached to the hulls of vessels or on mooring lines and equipment. During a routine marine biosecurity inspection in early 2010, Department of Conservation (DOC) staff spotted a single mature plant on a mooring rope in Sunday Cove at Breaksea Sound, Fiordland.
Environment Southland, DOC, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) with support from the Fiordland Marine Guardians swiftly launched a joint-agency response. A preliminary survey of high-risk areas in Fiordland found hundreds of juvenile Undaria plants in Sunday Cove, but none elsewhere. An intensive removal programme was put into...