If you're one of the hundreds of boaties who've been enjoying the Coromandel's coastal waters lately – give yourself a big ol' pat on the back.

Recent checks on more than 660 vessel hulls by a Waikato Regional Council dive team have found virtually no sign of marine pests at several sites on the east coast of the Coromandel peninsula.

'That indicates to us that boaties have been making a really solid effort to keep their hulls clean and stop the spread of dangerous marine pests such as the fanworm Sabella,” says biosecurity officer Thomas Malcolm.

On the peninsula's west coast, the council and the Ministry for Primary Industries have for some time been working together to tackle a fanworm incursion in Coromandel Harbour.

The council has also recently partnered with Bay of Plenty Regional Council to survey sites on the peninsula's east coast to get a clearer handle on the situation there.

'A dive team has now almost finished surveying high risk areas that can be potential habitat for invasive marine pest species. It has looked at boat hulls, which are the main way invasive pest species are spread.

'The great news is that no fanworm has been found on the east coast of the peninsula, an indication to us that boaties have made a big effort to keep their hulls clean.”

Apart from the already known presence of the sea squirt Styela clava in Kennedy Bay, no other marine pests were found anywhere else.

'This means the coastal marine area from the northern point of the peninsula, down the eastern coast and into the Bay of Plenty region appears clear from marine pest species. This includes islands off the coast.”

On behalf of the council Thomas is thanking boaties and the wider public for their continued support in preventing the spread of pest species like fanworm by adhering to safe practices, such as cleaning vessels and equipment before moving to different areas.

Thomas says to help stop the spread of marine pest a good idea for boaties is to apply the ‘six and on rule' before hitting the waters this summer.

'Please ensure a coat of antifoul paint has been applied to the hull in the last six months or the hull has been cleaned in the last month.

The best way to manage any pest species is a collaborative approach which prevents the spread of the pest and to manage what is already present.”

A boat heavily fouled with Mediterranean fanworm. File Photo