Labour Weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer boating season and 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 advise that keeping people safe on the water, and our pristine marine and freshwater environments pest-free, needs to be a priority for everyone.    

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 winter.

“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 local marine and freshwater waterways.  

Since being discovered at Great Barrier Island four years ago, exotic caulerpa has 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.

Council biosecurity team leader Hamish Lass said the message to all boaties – particularly those heading outside of region this summer – was clear: Don’t be the person who accidently 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.”

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.