Surveillance Has Benefits Across the Biosphere
Katherine Clift Surveillance has benefits across the biosphere
Surveillance is a discipline that applies to many areas within animals, and potentially leading to injury. In this edition of biosecurity. While Surveillance magazine focuses on diseases, Surveillance, we include an article on a recent investigation into the organisms or conditions that affect New Zealand’s wildlife and potential for incursion of marine pests from a shipwreck. valued introduced animals (including bees and species used The Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy, currently being developed, in aquaculture), MAF Biosecurity New Zealand also conducts will include a future vision for how biosecurity surveillance could surveillance for pests and diseases affecting farmed and native look in 2020, and will guide our efforts in biosecurity surveillance plants, and unwanted animals, plants and other organisms in New for pests and diseases affecting the things New Zealand values Zealand’s lands and waters. most, including our environment, primary industries and way of While it may initially appear that such surveillance has little life. It will create a framework for surveillance, and will apply to relevance or value to those who experience the impacts of animal surveillance in all of the above areas. pests and diseases, a closer examination indicates that pests and The draft Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy is currently undergoing diseases of plants, and those affecting the natural environment, can review within MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. The draft strategy have a significant impact on livestock and native animal species. is a framework, which we intend to flesh out in conjunction with Pests and diseases of plants can affect pasture species for livestock all those with a stake in biosecurity surveillance. The strategy is grazing. Crops used for stock feed can also be affected, as can trees progressing well, and we anticipate seeking feedback from a small in shelter belts that protect livestock from weather. Native birds and reference group in May, to ensure we have the basics right. Public insects also rely on plants for food and shelter, and the honey bee consultation is scheduled for October, and we look forward to industry relies on flowering plants. Additionally, bees are essential providing further details in future editions of Surveillance. for the pollination of crops and fruits – another link between animal Updates are also available at our website and plant health. (www.biosecurity.govt.nz/surveillancestrategy).
Unwanted freshwater organisms, whether algae, plants, animals or Biosecurity Surveillance is, among other things, biosecurity risk microorganisms, can have many potential effects on animals. They mitigation. While some of the risks mitigated by surveillance in can reduce water quality or palatability, either directly or by causing other areas may not directly affect animals, the surveillance is still imbalances, affecting access by wildlife and livestock. valuable in protecting their health and welfare. Animals of all kinds benefit from surveillance across the biosphere. Unwanted animals and insects can cause problems directly or indirectly. The bite of a poisonous snake may be more overtly Katherine Clift Manager Biosecurity Surveillance dangerous than the bite of an exotic mosquito, and more dramatic [email protected] than that of a foreign ant, but the ant could also have dangerous venom, and the mosquito, while seemingly innocent, could be a vector of significant diseases (some of which also affect people).
As well as their impacts on natural saltwater and estuarine ecosystems, marine pests can affect aquaculture. This can be in the form of increased infrastructure fouling, pest or disease transmission and predation. Marine pests can also significantly impact on the amenity value of the marine environment – for example, the shells of introduced oysters create sharp hazards on rock and muddy shores, affecting access by people and companion
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