Labour weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer boating season and Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council is urging boaties to make sure everything is shipshape before heading out.

The Regional Council’s harbourmaster and biosecurity teams advised that keeping people safe on the water and the pristine marine and freshwater environments pest-free needed to be a priority for everyone.

Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters said there was some prep work to do before skippers headed out on the water, especially if they hadn’t been out much over the winter.

“Check that your boat and gear are in good working order well before you leave home.

“People not wearing lifejackets and travelling at speed are the top two safety issues that the team will be looking out for.

“The Navigational Safety Bylaw is effectively the road rules on the water so it’s vital that people know the rules and take them seriously, to ensure everyone comes home safe.”

Alongside safer boating behaviour, boaties need to take water biosecurity seriously, with new invasive pests at the borders of our marine and freshwater waterways.

It’s four years since exotic caulerpa was first discovered at Aotea Great Barrier Island.

Since then, it’s been found at multiple locations around the top of the North Island and is now present in the Coromandel.

To date, it has not been discovered in the Bay of Plenty.

Regional Council biosecurity team leader Hamish Lass said that the message to all boaties – particularly those heading outside of region this summer – was clear: Don’t be the person who accidentally brings caulerpa back to the Bay of Plenty.

“If you do find any type of seaweed on your anchor, chain or gear, remove it, bag it and then bin it back on shore.

“We’re also asking people who are staying in the Bay of Plenty to keep an eye out for caulerpa.

“The quicker any infestation is found, the greater the chances are that we can control it.”

If you do find something that looks suspicious, don’t touch it or move it, but take a photo if you can, record your location and report it to 0800 80 99 66 or report.mpi.govt.nz.”

Exotic caulerpa spreads rapidly and will grow anywhere from below the tideline to 46m deep. Photo / supplied

Meanwhile, the presence of the highly invasive freshwater clam Corbicula in the Waikato River highlights the need for everyone to ensure that their gear, vessel and trailer is free from freshwater pests by checking, cleaning and drying their equipment every time they move between waterways.

Regional Council biosecurity officer Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa said that preventing the spread of the clam is everyone’s responsibility.

“The clam can spread quickly, producing up to 70,000 juveniles each year.

“Anyone enjoying any of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes boat ramps must follow the rules and complete the self-certification form every time they use a boat ramp.

“It doesn’t matter if you have last been out at sea, haven’t been out for months or only ever use one waterway, everyone needs to be thorough in how they clean the boat, trailer, and gear, and certify that they have done the right thing.”

The invasive freshwater clam Corbicula breeds prolifically. Photo / supplied

With more boaties starting to head out on the water as the weather warms up, the Harbourmaster summer patrols will be starting this weekend.

At the same time authorised biosecurity officers will be increasing self-certification compliance checks at the lake’s boat ramps.

For further information on the boating rules that apply, and marine and freshwater pest threats, visit the Regional Council website.

Boating in the Bay www.boprc.govt.nz/living-in-the-bay/boating-in-the-bay/

Corbicula www.boprc.govt.nz/environment/pests/aquatic-pests/corbicula/

Caulerpa www.boprc.govt.nz/environment/pests/marine-pests/caulerpa/