Sabella, or Mediterranean Fan Worm (Sabella spallanzanii)
Previous status: Eradication
New management category: Eradication with additional provisions, including Level of Fouling standard.
Rationale for inclusion
This amendment aligns with the Marlborough RPMP and therefore provides consistency across the Top of the South/Te Tauihu coastal marine areas. There are three additional Sabella control rules which provide a backstop ability for the Councils to undertake enforcement action if, and when, compliance situations arise.
The eradication goal requires owners of vessels and marine equipment (craft) entering the region to not exceed a standardised fouling level of 2 (as developed by the Cawthron Institute), and for owners/occupiers of places to destroy Sabella when directed to by an authorised person.
Read the Level of Fouling guidance from Cawthron.
Plan Rules and explanation of the rules
Specific Rules for Sabella in the Tasman-Nelson region
Over the duration of this Plan:
a. The owner or person in charge of any marine craft entering the Tasman-Nelson region must ensure that the fouling on the hull and niche areas of the craft does not exceed level 2 on the Cawthron level of fouling (LoF) scale, unless:
- The craft is entering Tasman-Nelson for the purpose of hauling out. The haul out must be undertaken within 24 hours of arriving. Proof via receipt from a haul out facility must be provided to an Authorised Person if requested, or
- The craft is entering Tasman-Nelson for emergency purposes and the craft leaves the region within 24 hours of arrival (or otherwise the occupier needs to comply with the rule), or
- The craft is required to enter Tasman-Nelson in response to a declaration of a state of emergency, as determined by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.
Rule a. does not apply to marine craft that have entered New Zealand waters in compliance with the Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for Biofouling in the period two months prior to either directly or subsequently entering Tasman-Nelson waters.
Rule a. is also not intended to apply to those craft that are usually moored in the Tasman-Nelson region and leave the region for no more than 72 hours before returning.
Level 2 macrofouling (e.g. having goose barnacles) is defined by the Cawthron Institute as: macrofouling is present in small patches, or a few isolated individuals or small colonies, and covers between 1 - 5% of the visible surface.
In relation to receipt verification from haul out facilities, this will need to be from a recognised haul out facility (i.e. the Top of the South has a list of recognised facilities) or proof that the facility complies with the respective council's consent rules.
b. The occupier or person in charge of any place (e.g. marine craft or structure) shall destroy Sabella that has been found on that place, on written direction from an Authorised Person, unless there is an approved agreement in place between the Management Agency and occupier as an alternative way to achieve this requirement.
c. In undertaking steps to destroy Sabella (under rule b.), the place shall first be slipped or contained within an encapsulation system and treated with biocode. If that is not practicable, Sabella may be removed in water by divers who are appropriately trained and all Sabella must be contained and returned to the surface for disposal to a suitably authorised facility.
Marine craft that have been hand cleared of sabella by divers under rule c. (i.e. where treated in-situ within TDC’s jurisdiction) are permitted to stay at the site of treatment for a maximum of one month following treatment. After this period craft are required to be slipped and fully cleaned, to the satisfaction of an authorised person. There is a boat haul out facility with Port Nelson.
d. Any person who suspects they have observed Sabella in Tasman-Nelson shall notify the Management Agency within 24 hours of making the observation, detailing the location and situation of the suspected pest.
Rule d. applies as Sabella is also a notifiable organism through the Biosecurity (Notifiable Organisms) Order 2016. The suspected presence of Sabella must also be reported to the Ministry for Primary Industries in accordance with section 46 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
