Situation and outlook for New Zealand agriculture and forestry (August 2007)
6 Biosecurity – the future of protection
It is important the public is involved in the country’s biosecurity system. People’s behaviour can contribute to or reduce the likelihood of new pests and diseases being introduced and spread. Informed groups can contribute to the early detection and reporting of new pests and diseases, and a supportive public can facilitate biosecurity responses by accepting the need for large-scale interventions such as aerial spraying and controls on stock movements.
Biosecurity outcomesNew Zealand has three primary biosecurity outcomes:
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Improving interventions at the border
Biosecurity New Zealand and the MAF Quarantine Service were recently integrated into MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, so risk assessors, policy makers, and standard setters now work alongside service deliverers. This is the start of a fundamental rebuilding of the border security function.
Single gateway for electronic data entry for importing businessesImporting businesses want border agencies to provide one seamless or virtual border agency. The concept of providing industry with a single gateway for electronic data entry has been around for many years. Interim measures are in place whereby an agent provides a single gateway that transfers data to the MAF and New Zealand Customs Service systems. MAF and the New Zealand Customs Service work with other government border agencies, such as Immigration New Zealand, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, and the Aviation Security Service of New Zealand, to create a whole-of-government information technology architecture. This helps us to interact efficiently with our clients in the private sector. A functional single gateway requires years of concerted effort and a high level of collaboration among government border agencies and industry. |
Border strategies
Businesses use segmentation to group like customers or markets in terms of their behavioural or consumer characteristics. Specific strategies are then established to target the objectives of each segment and align the business’s operations to achieve the desired outcomes.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is looking into adopting this approach to more effectively and efficiently manage its interventions at the country’s border. As a starting point, it has identified 15 groups (for example, animal products, used cars and machinery, vessels, and fresh fruit and vegetables) and is developing an intervention strategy for each group.
Passengers, commercial cargo, and mail have been identified as the three key service delivery channels through which any interventions would occur on the ground.
Marine and aquatic environmentIt is particularly difficult, technically and financially, to control invaders in the marine and aquatic environment. The best way is to reduce the chance of their getting there in the first place. However, with the increased movement of craft, people, and goods, some incursions are inevitable. Exotic marine organisms usually arrive in New Zealand via ballast water and fouling on ships’ hulls. Controls are in place to reduce the risk of ballast water discharges from ships and we are evaluating options for regulating the movements of fouled international vessels in New Zealand waters. We are also considering whether coastal shipping risks can be reduced with internal movement controls. These are complex problems, so it is unlikely they will be resolved on a large scale or in the short term. Few tools treat invasive marine and aquatic species, so MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is researching control and eradication options, such as the wrapping of wharf piles and heat treatment. However, worldwide, few marine eradication programmes have been successful, and most responses cause collateral damage to the marine or aquatic environment. |
Current significant incursion responses
Varroa
Varroa is a parasitic bee mite originating from Asia. Internationally, it is considered to be the most serious pest of bees. It was found in the North Island in 2000, but was too widespread to be eradicated. A control programme was implemented to slow the spread, but it has now spread throughout the North Island. The South Island remained varroa free until June 2006 when infected hives were discovered in the Nelson region. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand put movement controls on bees, hives, and other at-risk goods to try to contain the mite population.
The cost of attempting to eradicate varroa from the Nelson area was estimated at $9.5 million. The Government considered this cost unjustifiable, because the attempt did not have a high probability of success and re-incursions were considered inevitable. Instead, the Government approved $3.2 million over four years to fund a management programme to slow the spread of varroa in the South Island. The Government supported an industry proposal, which involved beekeepers destroying or relocating infested hives to the North Island and poisoning feral bees to eliminate varroa locally, with an additional $1.25 million.
Internationally, varroa are widespread and overseas beekeepers have been adapting their processes to reduce the mites’ impact on their businesses. New Zealand beekeepers are learning the same lessons.
Animal identification
MAF is working with the beef, dairy, and deer sectors in the joint National Animal Identification and Tracing Project.
The project’s aim is to enhance animal identification systems. Current systems are adequate, but the need is growing for animals to be more effectively tracked on farms and through processing, and for data to be captured that support the tracing of animals for biosecurity and market access.
The project is considering cattle and deer first, because identification is already compulsory for these species to manage the risks of bovine tuberculosis. The project will link the history of each animal from its farm of origin to when and where it was slaughtered. It is expected that this will satisfy emerging trade and consumer demands for traceable livestock, meet biosecurity requirements, and support consumers’ preferences for safe food.
Information the project holds will help MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to respond more effectively to animal-related biosecurity events such as the finding of a significant new disease.
The project is in the design phase. Formal consultation is required before any changes are implemented or new systems built.
Didymo – a freshwater alga
Didymo is a freshwater alga that forms thick ugly mats when growing in high densities. It was first found in October 2004 throughout the length of the Mararoa and lower Waiau Rivers in Southland, a single river system spanning almost 200 kilometres. Many of New Zealand’s rivers have been assessed as extremely suitable for supporting high densities of didymo.
Didymo has a long-term management programme, which will be fully implemented by June 2008.
Styela – sea-squirt
Styela clava is an exotic pest sea squirt that was first reported to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand in 2005. It poses a threat to the aquaculture industry with its ability to blanket oyster and mussel farms, smothering growing shellfish and competing for space and food.
Surveillance has found this sea squirt is widely established throughout the Hauraki Gulf, in smaller numbers in Lyttelton Harbour and in a very small population in the Tutukaka Marina in Northland. It has also been found on isolated vessels in Wellington and Nelson.
It has been established that eradication is not feasible and response efforts are now focused on preventing its spread to areas of high environmental or economic value. A further objective is to assist stakeholders, including regional councils and the aquaculture industry, to develop a long-term management programme for Styela clava and other potential marine pests.
Southern saltmarsh mosquito
The southern saltmarsh mosquito is a threat to public health because it can spread the Ross River virus. Symptoms of a Ross River virus infection include the sudden onset of aching in the muscles and joints and headache, often followed by a rash.
The mosquito was first found in Napier in 1998 and since then a national surveillance and eradication programme has been in place.
Red imported fire ant
The red imported fire ant is a highly invasive insect, and is considered the most invasive ant species in the world. The ant has a very wide range of potential economic impacts, including impacts to public health, the community, and the environment
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand has successfully eradicated two incursions of ant into New Zealand in recent years, and is working on a third incursion just north of Napier.
Contact for Enquiries
Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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