Pathway plan a finalist in Biosecurity Awards

The Fiordland Marine Regional Pathway Management Plan has been recognised as a finalist in the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards 2018.

The plan, which was formally adopted in 2017, is the first of its kind in New Zealand and is a crucial step in protecting Fiordland from marine pests, which are carried in on visiting vessels.

Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said, Fiordland is one of New Zealand's most unique and nationally significant areas, both economically and ecologically, and it is vital we protect it.

Development of the plan was done by a partnership group including Environment Southland, Fiordland Marine Guardians, Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, and Ngāi Tahu.

We are thrilled that the Fiordland Marine Regional Pathway Management Plan has been selected as a finalist, as it recognises the importance of biosecurity plans in these areas and also acknowledges the value of organisations working together to tackle the tricky issues.

The plan puts in place rules for all vessels entering the area and requires them to obtain a Clean Vessel Pass, ensuring they know and mitigate any risks of bringing in unwanted marine pests. Since its inception more than 200 Clean Vessel Passes have been issued.

The plan has been well supported and it can only be strengthened by the development of a national pathway approach by the Ministry for Primary Industries, which would help protect all of our waters from the increasing biosecurity risks.

The plan is a finalist for the New Zealand Biosecurity Eagle Technology Local and Central Government Award, with the winner to be announced during the annual Biosecurity Forum in Auckland on 12 November.

The Biosecurity Awards were established two years ago to recognise and celebrate exemplary contributions to protecting our taonga (precious natural resources) and ensuring New Zealand's biosecurity system remains resilient, effective, and world-leading. The awards reflect the spirit of the newly launched biosecurity brand Ko Tātou This Is Us which has been created to help build a biosecurity team of 4.7 million - all New Zealanders.