Tasman District contains numerous rivers, streams and back-country lakes we enjoy when getting out and about, particularly over summer.
When visiting these places or any new water body, it’s important to show due care and respect to ensure we neither introduce a new pest nor take away one to share elsewhere.
We’re asking anyone coming in contact with fresh water or moving between waterways, whether fishing, boating, tramping, swimming, biking or driving, to be extra vigilant about cleaning their gear.
Didymo and the microscopic algae Lindavia intermedia that causes lake snow have been the big names in recent years that have inspired us all to ‘check, clean, dry’.
However, there are plenty of invasive pest weeds, algae and other nasties that could take over our beautiful places if we accidentally introduce them.
Invasive freshwater weeds such as lagarosiphon, egeria and elodea, and pest fish like rudd or gambusia, can also be spread by a single plant fragment, fish egg or drop of water.
They can hitch a ride on trailers and watercraft as well as the fishing gear, clothing and boots of unknowing trampers, and become established in new lakes.
We can limit the spread by being vigilant.
- Check, clean and dry any wet/damp items and be especially cautious before entering a different lake or waterway.
- Soak gear in either a 10% mix of dishwashing detergent or nappy cleaner, a 2% (or 200ml in 10l of water) mix of bleach, in hot water above 60 degrees Celcius, or freeze until solid.
Together, we can stop unwanted algae and pests from spreading in our waterways.