Biosecurity New Zealand has directed a vehicle carrier to leave New Zealand waters following the discovery of stink bugs and other regulated pests.
Biosecurity officers intercepted three live and 39 dead brown marmorated stink bugs and 69 other dead regulated stink bugs after the Carmen arrived in Auckland from Europe on Wednesday morning.
The vessel was carrying a range of vehicles from Europe and the United States.
'The interceptions indicated the cargo was likely to be infested with stink bugs. We also believed the ship itself was contaminated,” says Steve Gilbert, Border Clearance Services Director, Biosecurity NZ.
'We informed industry prior to the start of the season of our hard line on cargo vessels believed to be infested with stink bug.
'This is about ensuring a dangerous pest does not get a chance to establish in New Zealand.”
The vessel left Auckland earlier yesterday afternoon.
The vessel will now have to be treated off shore before it can return, says Steve.
'If permitted to come back, the vessel should also expect intensive inspection before we allow any cargo to be discharged.”
The Carmen is the first cargo ship to be ordered to leave New Zealand since the beginning of the 2018/19 stink bug season in September.
In February, Biosecurity NZ turned around four bulk carriers arriving from Japan due to stink bug contamination.
4 comments
New Zealand Inspectors Based Overseas
Posted on 30-11-2018 16:36 | By Active
The Marmorated Stink Bug if established in New Zealand will affect the lives of all New Zealanders. All will give up growing fruit , tomatoes etc. Spray programs don’t work. It has to be daily and involve all neighbours. This bug is like or worse than Foot and Mouth disease is to the livestock industry. The car importers should have NZ CITIZEN , NZ TRAINED inspectors IN JAPAN or other countries sending cars to us. Inspecting ALL [not some] car shipments to NZ after fumigation and then sign off and send info to MPI. User pays. I spent a lot of my working life as an auditor . Don’t accept inspection of exporting countries when you are not there. Honesty box systems do not work. One sloppy inspector out of a 100 will cause disaster.
Flying of the ship
Posted on 30-11-2018 16:51 | By Active
DON’T let these ships near the coast PLEASE. Keep ships with Marmorated bugs on board well out to sea and not near ports. The USDA did a study of the flight of foraging Marmorated Stink bugs . Most bugs flew over 2.7k per day looking for food. A small number flew wind assisted over 117k. Bit of a worry.Lets all of us make the effort to recognize this bug for the good of NZ. Station some of our Inspectors at the car loading ports overseas. You might wished you had have done that one day.
Flying of the ship
Posted on 30-11-2018 16:51 | By Active
DON’T let these ships near the coast PLEASE. Keep ships with Marmorated bugs on board well out to sea and not near ports. The USDA did a study of the flight of foraging Marmorated Stink bugs . Most bugs flew over 2.7k per day looking for food. A small number flew wind assisted over 117k. Bit of a worry.Lets all of us make the effort to recognize this bug for the good of NZ. Station some of our Inspectors at the car loading ports overseas. You might wished you had have done that one day.
Thank You!!!
Posted on 30-11-2018 19:46 | By Bruja
THAT is one reason why I am happy to pay taxes. Thank you! Keep on the great work :)
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.