QUARTERLY REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS OF SUSPECTED EXOTIC MARINE AND FRESHWATER PESTS AND DISEASES

Exotic sea slug excluded Exotic marine pest and aquatic disease investigations A member of the public contacted MAF, concerned about are managed and reported by MAF’s Investigation and an unusual marine invertebrate found on the foreshore at Diagnostic Centre (IDC) Wallaceville. The following is a Okahu Bay, Auckland. The caller had not seen an like this before, and was concerned it could be the grey summary of investigations of suspected exotic marine side-gilled sea slug (which has been found to contain diseases and pests during the period from October to tetrodotoxin in the past) or something else unusual. From December 2011. the caller’s description it could not be determined whether the animal was a sea slug, sea cucumber or something else, so they submitted a specimen for identification. The slug was identified as the ragged sea hareBursatella leachii (Gastropoda: Aplysiidae), a native species commonly found on the northeast coast of New Zealand (including around Auckland). This species is not known to be toxic. The investigation was stood down as no exotic animal was detected. Japanese excluded A biosecurity officer from Environment Southland contacted MAF to report caught in Bluff Harbour that might be Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) (Stomatopoda: Squillidae). This species is now established in Kaipara Harbour but so far has not been found elsewhere in New Zealand. As its occurrence at Bluff would be a range expansion, samples Japanese kelp, Undaria pinnatifida and photos were submitted to the Marine Invasives Taxonomic Service for identification. Two crustaceans were submitted and were both found to be native species, Paul Bingham Pterygosquilla schizodontia (Stomatopoda: Squillidae) Team Manager Incursion Investigation – and Marine and sp (Stomatopoda: Tetrasquillidae). Investigation and Diagnostic Centre Wallaceville A crab in the images was also identified as a native Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Neommatocarcinus huttoni (Decapoda: Goneplacidae). PO Box 40 742, Upper Hutt The investigation was stood down as there was no [email protected] inherent biosecurity risk. Undaria confirmed at Chatham Islands A biosecurity officer from Environment Canterbury based at the Chatham Islands called the MAF pest and disease hotline regarding a possible find ofUndaria (Laminariales: Alariaceae) at Port Hutt, Chatham Islands. Images were sent through of mature plants attached to the seabed and on wharf structures at Port Hutt and sent to NIWA for expert identification. The plants were identified as Undaria. A joint agency response was initiated in collaboration with local tangata whenua.

SURVEILLANCE 39 (1) 2012 29