Sea squirt found in Northland

Two sea squirts have been found in the marina at Tutukaka in Northland.

It is the first time the pest, also known as the clubbed tunicate, has been found outside the Hauraki Gulf, the Firth of Thames or Lyttelton.

Biosecurity New Zealand said the two specimens were collected from a pontoon during surveillance work last week.

Surveillance at 20 other New Zealand locations has not turned up any of the pests.

Today a team from the National Institute of Atmospheric and Water Research (Niwa) is checking for sea squirts at the Tauranga Bridge Marina, tomorrow at Whakatane and Tauranga Port, and on Thursday at Whitianga and New Plymouth.

The sea squirt is a fouling organism that grows on marine structures, including aquaculture equipment.

There are no known human health issues around consuming shellfish that have been associated with it.

- NZPA