What does it look like?
The Northern Pacific seastar has five arms with pointed, often up turned tips. The arms join a central disc and are covered in clumps of small, chisel like spines. It can grow up to 50 cm across and ranges in colour from yellow and purple to red.
The arms are covered with many unevenly arranged small spines with jagged ends. There is also a single line of spines on either side of the groove where the tube feet lie
Why is it a problem?
If this seastar arrives in New Zealand it could have a serious impact on our aquaculture industry and our marine environment generally. The Northern Pacific Seastar is currently found in huge numbers in two areas of Australia (Derwent Estuary in Tasmania and Port Philip Bay, Melbourne).
It feeds on wild and farmed shellfish and a wide variety of other marine animals. It is normally found in shallow water but can be found from the intertidal area through to the subtidal as deep as 200 m. It can be found on muddy, sandy, pebbly seabeds as well as on rocks and man-made surfaces, even mussel lines. You would not normally see it in areas with high wave action.
Control methods
You must notify us or the Ministry for Primary Industries if you suspect the presence of this organism.
You can help prevent the spread of marine pests by:
- Regularly cleaning your boat’s hull –keep fouling growth to no more than a light slime layer.
- Applying a thorough coating of antifouling paint and keep it in good condition.
- Ensure your hull is clean and free of fouling before you travel to a new area.
- Clean and dry any marine equipment (e.g. ropes, lines and pots) before using in a new area.
- Inspect areas on your boat that retain water for signs of marine life.
- Check for aquatic weeds tangled around anchors, trailers and other equipment.
Related links
Notify Council
If you think you've found this pest, please get in touch with our Biosecurity Team at biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or call us on 0800 108 838.
Management Programme
Unwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Notifiable Organism
Some organisms must be notified to MPI if they're spotted in New Zealand. These include serious pests and diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, the rabies virus, fruit fly and disease-carrying mosquitoes. If a notifiable organism established in New Zealand, it could severely affect our primary production or trade and market access. If you spot a notifiable organism, you have a legal obligation under section 44 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 to tell MPI. Call the pests-and-diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
The Biosecurity (Notifiable Organisms) Order 2016 lists notifiable organisms. New additions can be made by the Governor-General and MPI periodically reviews the list to ensure it is up-to-date.
Rules
Rule 1
The operator of a vessel entering the waters of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council must ensure the hull (includes hull area, niche areas and wind and water line) or any structure or navigation aid of any origin, issufficiently cleaned and antifouled so that there is no more than a slime layer and/or goose barnacles.
Taxonomies
FamilyAsteriidae
TypeAnimals
GroupStarfish
HabitatMarine
Management ProgrammeUnwanted OrganismNotifiable Organism
RulesRule 1
