Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Whauwhau mussel spat farm
                        Biosecurity Management Plan

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Whauwhau mussel spat farm
                         Biosecurity Management Plan

 Carina Sim-Smith

 February 2020

 Prepared for Ohinau Aquaculture Ltd
 Report Number: 2020-002

Disclaimer
This report has been prepared based on the information described to Coast and Catchment Ltd by the
client and its extent is limited to the scope of work agreed between these two parties. No responsibility
is accepted by Coast and Catchment Ltd or its directors, servants, agents, staff or employees for the
accuracy of information provided by third parties, and/or for the use of any part of this report for
purposes beyond those described in the scope of work. The information in this report is intended for use
by the client and no responsibility is accepted for its use by other parties.
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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Contents
1      BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 4
2      MARINE PESTS AND DISEASES OF CONCERN .................................................................................. 5
3.     Biosecurity Management Plan ........................................................................................................ 6
     3.1.      Stock health management ...................................................................................................... 6
     3.1.      Stock movements and containment ....................................................................................... 7
     3.2.      Equipment and vessels ........................................................................................................... 7
     3.1.      Staff training and education ................................................................................................... 9
     3.1.      Marine pest monitoring & management .............................................................................. 10
     3.2.      Record keeping ..................................................................................................................... 11
     3.3.      Reporting............................................................................................................................... 12
     3.4.      Emergency procedures ......................................................................................................... 14
     3.5.      BMP review and auditing ...................................................................................................... 14
4      REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 16
5      APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................. 17

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
1      BACKGROUND

The location of Ohinau Aquaculture’s proposed mussel spat farm in Whauwhau is currently thought
to be free of unwanted marine organisms and pest species, some of which are present in western
Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf. The aim of this Biosecurity Management Plan (BMP) is to reduce
minimise the risk of introducing, exacerbating and spreading unwanted marine organisms and disease
as much as practicable possible. Development of this BMP has taken into consideration best practice
biosecurity recommendations (Georgiades et al., 2016), the A+ Sustainable Management Framework
for New Zealand mussels (AQNZ, 2015), and proposed resource consent conditions for the spat farm.
Compulsory requirements of the BMP are written in black, whereas recommended practices to
provide additional information to improve biosecurity understanding or to increase farm productivity
are written in blue. Biosecurity best practice management is constantly evolving, and therefore, this
BMP shall be reviewed and updated as necessary every two years.                                         Commented [CA1]: See comments further below

Figure 1. Location of the proposed spat farm (red boxes) in the Mercury Bay region.

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
2      MARINE PESTS AND DISEASES OF CONCERN

Marine pests and diseases of concern fall into three categories:
1. Notifiable organisms—organisms whose presence shall be immediately reported to Biosecurity
   NZ under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
2. Unwanted organisms—organisms that are prohibited to be sold, propagated, communicated,
   released or spread under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
3. Other pests of concern, which may be controlled by Pest Management Plans in certain regions.

Most of the notifiable marine organisms are not currently present in New Zealand, with the
exception of the Mediterranean fan worm (Sabella spallanzanii). Effective passive surveillance by
marine farmers can provide an early warning of the arrival of new pest species. Brief descriptions of
pest species that could potentially occur around the spat farm are given in Table 1 to Table 3. None
of these species are currently known to be present in the Mercury Bay Region, though wakame
(Undaria pinnatifida) has been found in Port Charles and Kennedy Bay (James & Shears, 2013). More
information on these species can be found at https://marinebiosecurity.org.nz/what-are-marine-
pests/ and www.marinepests.nz.

There are no notifiable diseases or known serious diseases for mussel spat. However, new diseases
may emerge. Mussel samples should be collected and sent for disease investigation by a fish
pathology laboratory in the case of any unusual and unexplained mortality events.

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Table 1. Marine pests designated as notifiable and unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
 Scientific name       Common name          Image                          Habitat                                       Known distribution
 Asterias amurensis    Northern Pacific                                    Soft sediment, rocks, artificial structures   Not present in NZ
                       seastar                                             in sheltered waters. Has been found on
                                                                           mussel lines overseas.

 Carcinus maenas       European shore                                      Intertidal estuaries to open ocean.           Not present in NZ
                       crab

 Caulerpa taxifolia    Aquarium                                            Estuaries, harbours and sheltered             Not present in NZ
                       Caulerpa                                            coastal waters down to 35 m.

 Eriocheir sinensis    Chinese     mitten                                  Fresh and brackish waters.                    Not present in NZ
                       crab

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Scientific name         Common name           Image                              Habitat                                          Known distribution
    Haliotis rufescens      Red abalone                                              Rocky habitats in intertidal and shallow         Not present in NZ
                                                                                     subtidal.

    Penaeus chinesis1       Chinese prawn                                            Benthic, brackish waters.                        Not present in NZ

    Potamocorbula           Asian clam                                               Intertidal and shallow subtidal soft             Not present in NZ
    amurensis                                                                        sediments.

    Sabella spallanzanii    Mediterranean                                            Artificial structures, marine farms, rocky       Throughout much of NZ including the
                            fan worm                                                 reefs, shells and soft sediments in              Hauraki Gulf, western Coromandel
                                                                                     waters down to around 35 m.                      and Tauranga. Not known to be
                                                                                                                                      present in the Mercury Bay region.

(Photos from www.marinebiosecurity.org.nz, https://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/image/956/asterias-amurensis-northern-pacific-seastar/, www.aquariumofpacific.org. www.
personal.cityu.edu.hk)

1
    Previously called Penaeus orientalis
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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Table 2. Marine pests designated as unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act.
 Scientific name         Common name         Image                    Habitat                                      Known distribution
 Styela clava            Clubbed tunicate                             Soft sediment, shells, rocky reefs,          Throughout much of NZ including
                                                                      artificial structures.                       Auckland, western Coromandel and
                                                                                                                   Tauranga. Not known to be present in
                                                                                                                   the Mercury Bay region.

 Undaria                 Wakame                                       Artificial structures, marine farms, rocky   Throughout much of NZ including the
 pinnatifida                                                          reefs.                                       Hauraki Gulf, west and north
                                                                                                                   Coromandel and Tauranga. Not known to
                                                                                                                   be present in the Mercury Bay region.

(Photos from www.marinebiosecurity.org.nz)

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Whauwhau mussel spat farm - Biosecurity Management Plan - Waikato Regional Council
Table 3. Other marine pests identified by Biosecurity NZ and The Top of the North Marine Biosecurity Partnership 2 as species of concern. Species in red are under
a sustained control programme in the Northland Regional Council’s Pest Management Plan3. No marine species are listed in Waikato’s Regional Pest Management
Plan.
    Scientific name                 Common name                      Image                             Habitat                           Known distribution
    Arcuatula senhousia             Asian date mussel                                                  Typically soft sediment, but      Northland, Auckland and
                                                                                                       have been found on hard           Tauranga. Not known to be
                                                                                                       surfaces. Forms dense mats        present in the Mercury Bay
                                                                                                       of mussels and byssal             region.
                                                                                                       threads.

    Charybdis japonica              Asian paddle crab                                                  Intertidal to subtidal,           Northland, Auckland,
                                                                                                       estuarine. Soft sediment          Tauranga, Firth of Thames
                                                                                                       and rocky reefs.                  and Whangapoua Harbour.
                                                                                                                                         Not known to be present in
                                                                                                                                         the Mercury Bay region.

    Eudistoma elongatum             Australian droplet tunicate                                        Soft sediment, artificial         Northland and Auckland.
                                                                                                       structures, typically             Not known to be present in
                                                                                                       intertidal. Dies off in winter.   Coromandel.

2
    A partnership between Auckland Council, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Northland Regional Councils (www.marinepests.nz).                                     Field Code Changed
3
    It is prohibited to sell, propagate, distribute or spread species listed in a Pest Management Plan under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
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Scientific name                   Common name                       Image                                Habitat                        Known distribution
    Oratosquilla oratoria             Japanese mantis shrimp                                                 Soft sediment                  Northland and Kaipara
                                                                                                                                            Harbour.

    Pyura praepetualis and P.         Pyura sea squirt                                                       Rocky reefs and artificial     Northland.
    doppelgangera4                                                                                           structures in the intertidal
                                                                                                             to shallow subtidal. Prefers
                                                                                                             exposed locations.

(Photos from www.marinebiosecurity.org.nz, https://consult-nrc.objective.com/portal/biosecurity/rpmp/rpmp?pointId=s1507076856958)

4
    Previously called Pyura stolonifera praeputialis
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3. Biosecurity Management Plan
      3.1. Stock health management                                                                                                                                                 Commented [AH|GW2]: NB. Sub-numbering in this section
                                                                                                                                                                                   needs updating throughout when BMP is finalised
                                                                                                                            5
    Objective                            Rationale                                                            Procedures

    To monitor the health status of      The percent mortality of spat provides an indication                 Deployed spat dropper ropes on the spat farm shall be
    mussel spat.                         whether spat are in good condition or affected by disease            inspected fortnightly6 and the density, average spat size
                                         or stress. Spat that are in poor condition are less likely to        and percentage of dead, attached spat shall be measured
                                         survive the transfer process.                                        from subsamples and recorded.
                                         Monitoring of the health status of mussels, post-transfer,           Spat should be inspected monthly for the first 3 months
                                         will provide information on the survival of spat, which              following transfer to an on-growing farm, and then
                                         may be linked to environmental conditions, time of year,             quarterly thereafter, and the density, average size and
                                         or spat health.                                                      percentage of dead attached mussels should be measured
                                                                                                              from subsamples and recorded.
                                         Unusually high mortality may be an indication of disease.            Spat samples should be sent to a fish pathology
                                                                                                              laboratory for disease testing if mortality rates are
                                                                                                              unusually high7.
                                         Temperature affects mussel’s growth rate and stress                  Water temperature at the site shall be measured
                                         levels. Recording of temperature along with mortality                fortnightly when spat ropes are in the water.
                                         rates may provide information on optimum temperatures
                                         for spat growth and survival.
                                         Monitoring of environmental conditions and spat                      Spat should not be transferred during stressful
                                         mortality may provide information on the range of                    environmental conditions e.g., high temperatures or
                                         conditions spat can tolerate.                                        following extended periods of heavy rainfall.

5
  Compulsory procedures are written in black, recommended procedures are written in blue.
6
  Weather and safety permitting.
7
  Currently, there is insufficient information on typical spat mortality rates for wild caught spat to be able to provide a figure for ‘normal’ mortality rates. Information
gathered through the monitoring of spat mortality under this BMP will provide us with a better understanding of spat mortality.
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3.1. Stock movements and containment
    Objective                            Rationale                                                        Procedures
    To manage the risk of pest or        To prevent pests or pathogens from being introduced              No stock shall be moved onto the spat farm.
    pathogen transfer via stock          onto the spat farm via stock.
    movements.
                                         To minimise the chance of transferring spat that are             Spat should not be transferred to other farms if mortality
                                         infected with disease.                                           is unusually high until either:
                                                                                                               •   disease testing shows that mussels are cleared of
                                                                                                                   pathogens; or,
                                                                                                               •   the mortality percentage has returned to normal
                                                                                                                   levels for at least two weeks.

       3.2. Equipment and vessels
    Objective                            Rationale                                                        Procedures
    To manage the risk of equipment To prevent pest species growing on the hulls of farm                  Vessel hulls (including propellers, niche areas and other
    or vessels transmitting pests or vessels.                                                             areas that retain water) shall be inspected regularly every
    disease onto the farm.                                                                                6-12 months and cleaned if required, as per MPI guidance
                                                                                                          and New Zealand’s in-water cleaning guidelines8,9.
                                                                                                          The hulls and underwater surfaces of the vessels shall be
                                                                                                          antifouled at least every two yearsevery 12 months for              Commented [CS3]: may change to one year as per WRC review.
                                                                                                          biocidal anti-fouling coatings or every 24 months for               Commented [CA4]: Consent condition should provide for the
                                                                                                          biocide-free coatings as per New Zealand’s in-water                 same
                                                                                                          cleaning guidelines8.
                                         To prevent pests and pathogens from being transferred to         All equipment used on the farm shall be:
                                         the farm via equipment.
                                                                                                          1. new; or,

8
    https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/pests-diseases/marine-pests/antifouling-consultation/antifouling-guidelines.pdf   Field Code Changed
9
    Ministry for Primary Industries (2019). New Zealand Marine Pest ID Guide. Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington. 32pp
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Objective                                  Rationale                                                              Procedures
                                                                                                                   2. cleaned of all attached biofouling material and then
                                                                                                                      disinfected with:
                                                                                                                            2% bleach in freshwater for 30 mins; or,
                                                                                                                            2% Decon 90 detergent in freshwater for 30
                                                                                                                            mins; or,
                                                                                                                            4% acetic acid in freshwater for 10 mins; or;
                                                                                                                            a suitable disinfectant10 following the
                                                                                                                            manufacturer’s instructions; or,
                                                                                                                   3. left to dry on land for at least one month.
                                            To reduce the chance of transferring viable pest                       Vessel hulls (including propellers, niche areas and other
                                            fragments amongst sites via the vessel deck and                        areas that retain water) The deck and machinery
                                            machineryhulls, niche areas and equipment.                             equipment of all harvesting vessels shall be inspected and
                                                                                                                   cleaned (thoroughly washed downas per the cleaning
                                                                                                                   specifications described within this management plan)
                                                                                                                   following the handling of mussel lines on board the
                                                                                                                   vessel, prior to that vessel leaving another farm site and       Commented [AH|GW5]: NB. Would add “and leaving the spat
                                                                                                                   visiting the spat farmmoving to a new locationarriving or        farm” in the future if a pest species were to become established in
                                                                                                                                                                                    MB.
                                                                                                                   leaving the farm site11.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Commented [JB6R5]: Disagree. Equipment needs to be
                                            To reduce the chance of transferring microscopic pests or              Any contained spaces that retain deck water shall be             checked and cleaned before moving between sites as per MPI
                                                                                                                                                                                    guidance.
                                            pathogens amongst sites via retained water on the vessel.              drained prior to a vessel
                                                                                                                   moving to a new location11.leaving another farm site and
                                                                                                                   visiting the spat farm                                           Commented [AH|GW7]: NB. Would add “and leaving the spat
                                                                                                                                                                                    farm” in the future if a pest species were to become established in
                                            To reduce the chance of transferring pests or pathogens via All dive equipment used in the spat farm that is used in                    MB.
                                            dive gear that is used at multiple farm sites.              other farms should be:                                                      Commented [JB8R7]: As per comment above

                                                                                                                   1. Cleaned and rinsed with fresh water;

10
     Suggested disinfectants include monosulfate solutions e.g., Virkon-STM, povidone-iodine solutions, chloramine-T solutions.
11
     As recommended by Ministry for Primary Industries (2019). New Zealand Marine Pest ID Guide. Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington. 32pp
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Objective             Rationale   Procedures
                                   2. Disinfected with a suitable disinfectant109 following
                                      the manufacturer’s instructions; and
                                   3. Rinsed and dried (for a period of >48 hours) prior to
                                      that equipment being used at the spat farm.

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3.1. Staff training and education
 Objective                         Rationale                                                        Procedures
 To ensure all farm staff          To ensure farm biosecurity measures and the BMP are              The spat farm shall have a nominated staff member who
 understand the importance of      properly implemented.                                            is responsible for oversight of farm biosecurity and
 farm biosecurity and their                                                                         implementing the BMP. The nominated staff member
 responsibilities to maintaining                                                                    should shall have knowledge and understanding about
 farm biosecurity.                                                                                  marine biosecurity.
                                   Farm staff are the most likely to provide an early warning       All farm staff shall be trained in biosecurity awareness
                                   of a biosecurity issue. Implementation of good farm              and management. Training shall be conducted by                   Commented [CA9]: How often? Should be compulsory for new
                                   biosecurity practices requires all staff to participate. Staff   someone who has knowledge and understanding about                staff, then regular refresher.

                                   that understand the importance of biosecurity are more           marine biosecurity and is to cover:
                                   likely to implement good biosecurity practices.
                                                                                                        •   the importance of biosecurity and the
                                                                                                            consequences of pest or disease outbreaks;
                                                                                                        •   major routes of pest and disease transmission
                                                                                                            on/off the farm;
                                                                                                        •   signs of ill health or poor condition in mussels;
                                                                                                        •   pest species to look out for and monitoring
                                                                                                            requirements;
                                                                                                        •   their responsibilities under the BMP and
                                                                                                            standard operating procedures required by the
                                                                                                            BMP;
                                                                                                        •   reporting and emergency response procedures if
                                                                                                            a disease outbreak or pest species is found or
                                                                                                            suspected on the farm.
                                   To assist farm staff with pest identification.                   All farm vessels shall have Biosecurity NZ’s Marine pest
                                                                                                    ID guide on board to assist with pest identification,
                                                                                                    collection and reporting (available from
                                                                                                    https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/10478/direct).

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3.1. Marine pest monitoring & management
 Objective                          Rationale                                                  Procedures
 To provide an early warning        An early warning of the arrival of new pest species        All farm staff shall be on the look-out for pest species
 system for the arrival of new      provides a better chancge of eradication.                  identified in Section 2, and any new or unusual species
 pests, and to manage the                                                                      during normal farm activities (passive surveillance).
 population of biofouling species
 that are present in the area.
                                    To provide an early warning of the arrival of new pest     Farm staff shall examine the spat droppers and backbone
                                    species and to monitor their abundance on the dropper      ropes for the presence of marine pest species identified in
                                    ropes.                                                     Section 2 at least monthly. The presence/absence and
                                                                                               abundance (rare, occasional, common, abundant) of pest
                                                                                               species shall be recorded.
                                    To assist staff with the collection and reporting of any   All farm vessels shall have suitable sample containers on
                                    new or suspected pest species.                             board to collect any new, unusual or pest specimens, and
                                                                                               instructions on how to collect samples, information to
                                                                                               record, and reporting procedures.
                                    To monitor the presence of any pest species that may be    A biosecurity monitoring survey for pest species identified
                                    growing in the consented area that are not visible from    in Section 2 present on the spat farm structures and the
                                    the surface.                                               seabed in the consented area shall be conducted by a
                                                                                               suitably qualified and experienced person(s):
                                                                                                   •   a year after the first installation of the long-line
                                                                                                       structures; and,
                                                                                                   •   every three years, thereafter; and/or
                                                                                                   •   immediately following the recorded presence of a
                                                                                                       new marine pest species on spat droppers and/or
                                                                                                       backbone ropes.
                                                                                               The three yearly surveys shall be conducted at a similar
                                                                                               time in the year.

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Objective                   Rationale                                                  Procedures
                             To prevent the spread of unwanted organisms as required    Any unwanted organisms growing on dropper ropes on
                             by the Biosecurity Act 1993.                               the spat farm or on the spat farm structures shall be             Commented [CA10]: Consent holder responsibilities and
                                                                                        removed, contained and disposed of in an appropriate              required management in respect to a new pest incursion are
                                                                                                                                                          unclear. If responsibilities and management actions (e.g. pest
                                                                                        land-based facility at the earliest time practicable              removal requirement) are dependent on species and/or degree of
                                                                                        following MPI notification.                                       infestation and/or legislation dependent, then responsibilities and
                                                                                                                                                          appropriate management should be clearly set out in the
                             To reduce the reproductive pest population on the farm.    If pest species are present on the farm, the following            management plan and/or reviewed as part of a management plan
                                                                                                                                                          review & updated at the time a new incursion is observed.
                                                                                        management actions are recommended every 3 months:
                                                                                            •   buoys on the farm should be rotated to expose
                                                                                                the submerged surface to the air to kill the
                                                                                                biofouling growth on the underside;
                                                                                            •   biofouling should be stripped from the backbone
                                                                                                lines and any unwanted organisms removed,
                                                                                                contained and disposed of in an appropriate land-
                                                                                                based facility.

      3.2. Record keeping
 Objective                   Rationale                                                  Procedures
 To record all information   To record information that may provide a better            Records shall be kept of:
 necessary to support good   understanding of the factors that affect spat health and
                                                                                            •    all stock transfers off the spat farm (date,
 biosecurity practice.       survival, and information required in the case of a
                                                                                                 quantity, destination);
                             biosecurity emergency.
                                                                                            •    stock health from settlement to transfer off the
                                                                                                 farm (inspection dates, average mussel spat
                                                                                                 size; density, growth rate, and any health issues
                                                                                                 or mortality);
                                                                                            •    environmental conditions when spat ropes are
                                                                                                 in the water (water temperature, date and
                                                                                                 duration of heavy rain events (> 8 mm/hr),
                                                                                                 observations of algal blooms);
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•    equipment transfers onto the spat farm (date,
                                                                                                                  equipment, origin) and cleaning/disinfection/
                                                                                                                  drying process(es) conducted;
                                                                                                             •    results of any disease testing conducted;
                                                                                                             •    results of pest monitoring (date, organisms
                                                                                                                  present, abundance); and
                                                                                                             •    vessel hull cleaning and anti-fouling dates.
                                         To record information that may provide a better                 Records should also continue to be kept of stock health
                                         understanding of the factors that affect mussel health          from transfer off the spat farm to harvest (inspection
                                         and survival, and information required in the case of a         dates, average mussel size, density, growth rate, and any
                                         biosecurity emergency.                                          health issues or mortality).

       3.3. Reporting
 Objective                               Rationale                                                       Procedures
 To inform authorities and allow To allow timely management actions in response to                       Farm staff shall immediately report the following to the
 timely management actions to be potential biosecurity issues to be taken by farm                        person in charge of farm biosecurity:
 taken by the authorities        management.
                                                                                                         •   the presence, or suspected presence, of a notifiable or
 regarding pest or disease
                                                                                                             unwanted organism or other marine pest on the farm
 outbreaks.
                                                                                                             or farm vessels;
                                                                                                         •   any unusually high mortality.
                                         To allow timely management actions of potential                 All notifiable organisms12 found on the farm shall be
                                         biosecurity issues to be taken by the authorities. A legal      immediately reported to Biosecurity NZ (0800 80 99 66).
                                         requirement under the Biosecurity Act 1993.                     Photos of the organisms and samples should be collected
                                                                                                         if possible, and the observation date and abundance
                                                                                                         recorded.

12
     A full list of notifiable organism can be found at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/6403-biosecurity-notifiable-organisms-order-2016                              Field Code Changed
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To assure WRC that the biosecurity consent conditions   An annual report shall be provided to WRC each year
                       are being carried out, and to provide WRC with          (with the first report provided 12 months after the
                       information on pest species and abundance.              installation of the first structures at the spat farm). That        Commented [AH|GW11]: NB. Christin, we propose that this
                                                                               report should contain details about:                                would be provided as part of the Annual Operational Report.
                                                                                                                                                   Commented [CA12R11]: I support this.
                                                                               •   equipment transfers onto the spat farm (date,
                                                                                   equipment, origin) and cleaning/disinfection/drying
                                                                                   process(es) conducted;
                                                                               •   results of pest monitoring and management by farm
                                                                                   staff (date, organisms present, abundance) including
                                                                                   expert comment on whether management practices
                                                                                   require changes if pests have been recorded;
                                                                               •   vessel cleaning and antifouling dates including type
                                                                                   of antifoulant used
                       To assure WRC that the biosecurity consent conditions   A biosecurity monitoring report in relation to each
                       are being carried out, and to provide WRC with          biosecurity survey shall be provided to WRC within two
                       information on pest species and abundance.              months of the date of sampling.

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3.4. Emergency procedures
 Objective                            Rationale                                                   Procedures
 To ensure emergency procedures To prevent the spread of a notifiable organism. Required          No spat shall be transferred off the farm if a notifiable
 are developed and understood to by the Biosecurity Act 1993.                                     organism is found on the farm until Biosecurity New
 minimise the impact of                                                                           Zealand has been notified and has advised the farm
 emergency biosecurity incidents.                                                                 owner about any emergency biosecurity measures
                                                                                                  required.
                                      To prevent the spread of mussels that are infected with a   If disease testing shows that spat mortality is caused by a
                                      pathogen.                                                   pathogen, then all spat ropes on the farm should be
                                                                                                  removed to land and the ropes cleaned and disinfected
                                                                                                  as per the protocols outlined within this management
                                                                                                  plan. All biological material should be collected,
                                                                                                  contained and disposed of in an appropriate land-based
                                                                                                  facility.                                                          Commented [CA13]: This should be compulsory

                                      To prevent the spread of harmful algae with mussel spat.    No spat should be transferred off the farm if harmful
                                                                                                  algal concentrations exceed harvest closure levels in the
                                                                                                  spat farm, but not in the destination farm.                        Commented [CA14]: This should be compulsory

      3.5. BMP review and auditing
 Objective                            Rationale                                                   Procedures
 To ensure the farm BMP               To allow the BMP to be updated to follow best practice      The BMP shall be reviewed by a suitably qualified and
 continues to address biosecurity     management and to incorporate any new biosecurity           experienced person once every two years. Updated                   Commented [CA15]: BMP review should be in accordance with
 risks effectively and efficiently.   information.                                                BMPs shall be sent to WRC for written approval in a                consent conditions. If a new pest species has been detected, the
                                                                                                                                                                     plan should be reviewed immediately and updated with pest
                                                                                                  technical certification capacity.                                  removal/management actions if appropriate / necessary. As per my
                                                                                                                                                                     previous comment: Consent holder responsibilities and required
                                      To check that the BMP is being implemented correctly, to    The review of the BMP should include discussions                   management in respect to a new pest incursion are unclear. If
                                      identify any operational deficiencies, and to discuss       between the reviewer and farm staff and the owner                  responsibilities and management actions (e.g. pest removal
                                                                                                                                                                     requirement) are dependent on species and/or degree of infestation
                                      potential improvements to the BMP.                          about implementation of the BMP.                                   and/or legislation, then responsibilities and appropriate
                                                                                                                                                                     management should be reviewed as part of a management plan
                                                                                                                                                                     review & updated at the time a new incursion is observed.

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4      REFERENCES

AQNZ (2015). A+ New Zealand. Sustainable management framework. New Zealand mussels.
Aquaculture New Zealand, Nelson, New Zealand. 113 pp. Available from
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55d2b0eee4b0649ae7068665/t/55f7d6afe4b05cc86891dd9f
/1442305711334/Greenshell+Mussel+SMF+July+2015+10-9-15.pdf
Georgiades, E.; Fraser, R.; Jones, B. (2016). Options to strengthen on-farm biosecurity management
for commercial and non-commercial aquaculture. MPI Technical Paper no. 2016/47. Aquaculture
Unit, Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington, New Zealand. 353 pp.
James, K.; Shears, N. (2013). Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in Undaria pinnatifida
populations around the Coromandel Peninsula. WRC Technical Report 2013/15. Waikato Regional
Council, Hamilton, New Zealand. 40 pp.

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5      APPENDICES

Table 4. Record sheet example for pest monitoring.
 Date
 Monitoring carried out by:
 Pest species present                                 Y/N                     Abundance*
                                                                           (Rare, Occasional,
                                                                          Common, Abundant)
 Mediterranean fan worm (Sabella)
 Clubbed tunicate (Styela)
 Australian droplet tunicate (Eudistoma)
 Wakame (Undaria)
 Asian paddle crab (Charybdis)
 Asian date mussel (Arcuatula)

 Any other notifiable, new or unusual species observed (Y/N)?
 If so:
 Photograph taken?
 Specimen collected?
 Reported to farm owner/manager?
 Reported to Biosecurity NZ?
 Notes about new species:

* Rare: 20 m apart on the dropper
ropes; Common: single pests are spaced 5–20 m apart on the rope; Abundant: single pests are
spaced less than 5 m apart.

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Table 5. Record sheet example for spat health monitoring
 Date lines went in the water:
 Inspection date:
 Inspection carried out by:
 Water temperature
 Any heavy rain in the past week?
 Any sign of algal blooms?
                                             Sample 1      Sample 2   Sample 3
 Average spat size
 Spat density
 % of dead shells
 Notes:

Table 6. Record sheet example for stock transfers
 Date lines went in the water
 Date lines were removed from water
 Destination farm
 Number of metres transferred
 Notes

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Table 7. Record sheet example for equipment treatment and transfer.
 Date equipment put on spat farm
 Type of equipment
 Equipment treatment (tick one):         ✓
        1. New
        2. Cleaned and dried                  Date equipment was
                                              removed from water
        3. Cleaned and disinfected            Date of disinfection
                                              Disinfection used

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