Research

Artificial structures associated with ports, marinas and coastal urban centres (e.g. pontoons, pilings and breakwalls) are often the sites where marine non-indigenous species first become established. This research theme will develop eco-innovative tools for protecting high-risk infrastructure, including novel surface treatment technologies for sustained biofouling prevention and substrates to enhance native populations to achieve ‘invasion resistance’.

Early detection of new incursions is critical to effective biosecurity management. This theme will enhance our ability to monitor for the presence and distribution of marine pest species using molecular sampling tools. It will also help develop the next generation of biosecurity practitioners by taking marine pest monitoring to New Zealand’s classrooms and equipping citizen-science programmes with field-operable molecular kits for pest detection.

Movements of ships, boats, maritime equipment and infrastructure are principal pathways for the spread of non-indigenous marine species. This research theme will develop a network-based epidemiological transport model of New Zealand’s maritime system. The model will be used to help us understand the strength and dynamics of invasion pathways and enable the development of optimised strategies for prevention and incursion response.