$50,000 allocated to assess sea squirt threat

The Mussel Industry Council will spend $50,000 to assess the impact of the sea squirt which is threatening New Zealand's $200 million mussel industry.

Biosecurity New Zealand last week announced that the sea squirt, from Korea, had been found in Lyttelton Harbour and Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, and those areas would be surveyed over the next month to determine its spread.

However, the aquaculture industry has called for immediate action to eradicate the pest, which has caused damage worldwide as it competes for food with shellfish such as oysters and mussels, and eats their larvae.

Mussel Industry Council executive officer Lorna Holton said little was known about the sea squirt in New Zealand conditions, but it had caused considerable damage to Canadian marine farms, and there was no time to waste.

"The executive committee has recommended that the board use all of its new project funding to look at the practical management of eradication of the sea-squirt, and this is a reflection of how seriously it could impact on our industry," she said.

- nzpa