Vessel hull fouling limits
Your vessel’s hull must be clean when entering the Marlborough, Nelson, or Tasman regions.
Ensure fouling on your vessel's hull and niche areas does not exceed ‘light fouling’ or Level 2 fouling on the Cawthron Level of Fouling scale, for example, small patches or isolated barnacles (1 - 5% coverage), unless:
- You're entering for a haul-out, which must happen within 24 hours.
- There's an emergency affecting the safety of the craft or people on board.
- There's a declared state of emergency.
This rule does not apply if:
- Your craft has met New Zealand's Craft Risk Management Standard for Biofouling within the past two months.
- Your craft is usually moored in the Tasman-Nelson region and leaves for no more than three days before returning.
Click image to enlarge:
Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii)
If you suspect that you have discovered Mediterranean fanworm on your vessel, you must notify the local Council.
Council will work with you to create a plan to treat or manage the infestation on the vessel, preventing further spread.
You should not attempt to remove Mediterranean fanworm yourself, as disturbing or incorrectly removing can lead to the unwanted spread of this species.
Report Mediterranean fanworm:
Marlborough District Council 03 520 7400
Nelson City Council 03 546 0200
Tasman District Council 03 543 8400
Greater Wellington Regional Council 0800 496 734
Marlborough District Council Regional Pest Management Programme and Nelson City Council/Tasman District Council Marine Pest Rules. To read the rules in full, please click the links below:
New Zealand's marine pest identification guide
This guide contains the top 11 marine pest species that we don't want in New Zealand. You can help us by reporting any suspect marine animal or plant.
Marina access
Marinas and ports can impose specific requirements on visiting vessels and may refuse service if these requirements are not met.
Many marinas follow the 6 or 1 rule. This means that boats must have been antifouled within 6 months of entering the marina or lifted and hauled out within 1 month.
It is recommended that you check with individual marinas before you plan to visit.
Marine Biosecurity Rules for other regions
Guides
Guidelines for in-water cleaning of vessel hulls
Vessel fouling
Summer survey of mobile vessels and moored vessels - results over last 5 years
These interactive maps allow you to select areas of interest, particular pests, structures or vessels, and separate years. They are accompanied by a summary report for the last year and trends over time.
Checks have been made of 1947 boats, 1507 structures (90% of which are swing moorings) and 100 seabed sites.
Most of the effort has focused on the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park coastline, where active boaters are most prevalent.
Additional surveys and/or removal programmes for target pests were undertaken in the main TOS ports and marinas, as part of other council-funded work.
