Golden clam discovery sparks closure of Aqua Park
Biosecurity New Zealand has temporarily closed a water park in Taupō following the discovery of the invasive freshwater gold clam - which they believe arrived after “human activity”.
“After confirming the presence of the clam in the lagoon at Lake Taupō Aqua Park, Biosecurity New Zealand has worked with the operators of the park around the temporary closure, and thank them for their cooperation,” said Biosecurity New Zealand director of readiness and response, John Walsh.
Taupō Mayor David Trewavas said he was “very disappointed” at the news of the clams spread.
“It’s pretty scary.”
He said one silver lining was that there was no inlet to the site from Lake Taupō, and that MPI were monitoring the situation.
“Hopefully they’ve been able to confine it.”
He said the park attracted as many as 10,000 visitors over the summer, and that tests at Huka Falls and the nearby Prawn Park had been all clear.
Tūwharetoa Maori Trust board chief executive Rakeipoho Taiaroa said the discovery “reinforces the need for constant vigilance to protect our waters from unwanted pests and biological dangers”.
“This situation also highlights the importance of reporting any possible sightings through the appropriate channels.”
The Trust Board also asked for any sightings of the golden clam should be reported to MPI.
Taupō environmentalist Dave Cade known as ‘didymo Dave’ - said the presence of the clams at the park was a sign not enough people were complying with check, clean and dry requirements for items coming out of the water.
“There are no boats at the Aqua Park, birds don’t shift fresh water pests, they had to get there on some form of equipment contaminated in the Waikato river.”
He said a wake board or life jacket would be the likely culprit for bringing the clam to the park. He said the clams discovery should be a warning to people to check, clean and dry equipment, something he said he believed the majority of people were simply not doing.
“We cant give an inch on it,” he said. The arrival of the invasive species was first revealed by the Waikato Times backin May last year, when the clams discovery in the Waikato River “mortified” local kaitiaki.
The invasive freshwater clam has the potential to destroy native habitats, clog water supplies and hydroelectric dams alarmingly too, the clam has never been eradicated elsewhere.
According to an advisory report to Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) released in the wake of their discovery, “eradicating freshwater gold clam in the Waikato River is extremely unlikely, but a strategy of containment and suppression is feasible”.
The freshwater gold clam was seen by Biosecurity New Zealand staff this week at the park, who were inspecting the lagoon following a positive environmental DNA test.
“We encourage anyone who has been at the aqua park in the past week to wash their togs and towels in hot water and thoroughly dry them for at least 48 hours before using them in any other river or lake,” said Walsh.
Walsh said the clam is contained to the lagoon.
“The lagoon at the Lake Taupō Aqua Park doesn’t discharge water into any other body of water, including Lake Taupō and the Waikato River,” he said.
“Because of this, the most likely way that clams could spread from the lagoon would be human activity, so temporarily closing the lagoon while we look at longer term options for dealing with the clams there is the best way to avoid this.
“We think the clam has likely been in the lagoon for two to three years.
“We’ve increased our surveillance in the surrounding area in response to this find, and so far there are no indications of the clam in any nearby waterways including the Waikato River and Lake Taupō.”
Biosecurity New Zealand has a national surveillance plan for the clam in place, with a primary focus of detecting any spread of the clam beyond its current known locations on the Waikato River and now, the Lake Taupō Aqua Park.
More information about the clam and the biosecurity measures in place can be found on the Biosecurity New Zealand website.