Sea squirt alert at Picton

A sea squirt, potentially a threat to Marlborough's mussel industry, is believed to have been discovered on a boat in Picton's Waikawa Marina.

Biosecurity New Zealand is investigating the as-yet unconfirmed find on the fouled hull of a vessel.

The sea squirt, also known as clubbed tunicate and Styela clava, has been found in Lyttelton and Auckland harbours.

The squirt is a threat to New Zealand's $300 million aquaculture industry as it competes for food with shellfish and eats their larvae.

Mussel Industry Council executive officer Lorna Holton said the issue was being taken seriously. The vessel, which had spent time in Lyttelton before spending eight months at Viaduct Harbour, docked last week.

The skipper contacted Marlborough District Council, who immediately removed the boat from the water to inspect its hull.

A small sea squirt was discovered, after preliminary identification by Niwa taxonomist Mike Page.

To formally identify the specimen a molecular identification needs to be undertaken.

The Biosecurity NZ senior adviser for marine biosecurity, Brendan Gould, said it was being assumed that the specimen was clubbed tunicate. An examination was being arranged of the area where the boat was berthed in Picton.

- NZPA