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Pests and Diseases

There is a relative absence of salmon diseases and parasites in New Zealand waters.

However, like coastal shipping and recreational boating, Marine farm activities are a potential vector for transporting unwanted and exotic marine species to new localities around the country.

Marine farms can also provide ideal habitats for some species, especially biofouling species. There is the potential for marine pests to establish on a marine farm, then multiply and subsequently spread into the surrounding natural environment. The pest may then cause changes to existing communities.

Also, extensive biofouling by unwanted pest species could adversely affect the salmon farming operations themselves.

Good farm management is an effective way to minimise the spread of pests and diseases as well as maximise farm yield.  The New Zealand aquaculture industry recognises that managing pests and diseases is important to the health of the environment and the aquaculture industry as a whole.

The salmon industry has been proactive in developing an environmental code of practice, part of which focuses on minimising the potential for further introduction of pests and diseases.  This document complements existing MAF Biosecurity New Zealand guidelines.