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Hawke's Bay Regional Council is part of the national Check Clean Dry campaign being led by MAF Biosecurity to keep didymo from spreading through our waterways.
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During summer, Council staff are again talking to people using our freshwater rivers, streams and lakes about the importance of checking equipment, cleaning it and drying it properly before leaving the waterway. This is a habit all New Zealanders now need to adopt for all freshwater activity. Staff have information packs with them or you can contact the Council’s Biosecurity team on 06 835 9200.
If you see anything in a river that you think might be didymo, leave it where it is and phone Hawke's Bay Regional Council on 0800-108-838 (835-9200) and ask to speak to a plant pest officer. Or phone Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809 966.
Please don’t leave it to late to change your habits. Didymo will have dramatic effects if it gets in to Hawke’s Bay waterways as it changes the river ecology, affecting native fish, plants and insects. It will have a big impact on trout fisheries, hydro power schemes and irrigation. It will certainly make swimming an unpleasant experience.
What is didymo?
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Didymo is an invasive freshwater alga which is microscopic – ie invisible. It’s not until it forms a thick brown mat on rocks and the river bed before didymo is visible to the human eye. Check the Biosecurity New Zealand website for more information.
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Didymo is extremely easily transported as a single microscopic cell in a single drop of moisture from one river to another – so CLEAN CHECK DRY all fishing gear, waders, kayaks, buoyancy aids, boots, boats, trailers and any other equipment that has been in contact with river water.
Remember that all rivers should be treated as if they are infected as, in its early stages, didymo is invisible to the naked eye.
Prevent the spread of Didymo: Either restrict use of equipment to a single river or, if this is not possible the Check, Clean, Dry technique should be followed.
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