Japanese car ship closely inspected
Fijian authorities, after close inspection, cleared a Japanese car ship of biosecurity threats yesterday in light of a recent stink bug crisis in New Zealand.
The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) permitted cargo discharge from car-carrier ‘Morning Menad’. However vehicles were held at the port pending further inspection.
New Zealand authorities turned away three ships this month after discovering hundreds of brown marmorated stink bugs on board, NZ media reported.
According to the reports, the pests had the potential to destroy the country’s fruit and vegetable industry.
One report said the three ships were now floating
“aimlessly” in the Pacific.
The Fijian authorities confirmed that the inspection was based on information received from counterparts in NZ.
Three senior officers boarded the ship shortly after it berthed at the Suva Harbour around 7am yesterday.
Information received from the NZ customs and biosecurity services was disseminated to the operations team at the wharf who were on the lookout for yellow and brown marmorated stink bugs.
According to the Fijian biosecurity, stink bugs were present in Fiji but the species worrying NZ posed a threat to Fiji as well.
On Wednesday, another ship was denied entry into NZ, another report stated. The nation was put on high alert by the Ministry for Primary Industries for the invasive species, NZ media reported.
Another report from NZ quoted Horticulture New Zealand President Julian Raine who said the bugs would decimate the country’s horticulture industry if they entered the country.