Summer is upon us and it is important that we paddlers do our part to look after our Taiao (our environment) this season and all seasons.
A very real issue for our community is the spread of invasive gold clam, present in waterways in the Waikato region. These clams reproduce rapidly and form large populations that can clog water-based infrastructure such as electricity generation plants, irrigation systems, and water treatment plants. They are filter feeders that can potentially compete with native species for food.
Since it’s discovery in the Waikato river in 2023, the invasive gold clam been officially classified as an “unwanted organism”. This means under the Biosecurity Act, it is illegal to “knowingly move or spread the freshwater gold clam or water that may contain it”.
As CRNZ has many events and paddling activity at Lake Karapiro, we are all responsible for ensuring we do not spread this species to other lakes, rivers and waterways.
When moving between waterways this summer, please Check Clean and Dry all craft, clothing and equipment to ensure you do not have any hitchhikers.
Check – for what is visible
Remove any plant matter, mud or visible clams from your gear and leave it at the river or lake bank, or put it in the rubbish.
Drain all river or lake water from your boat and gear.
Clean – for what is not visible
Blast your gear and craft with tap water onto grass, not into a stormwater system or drain.
For absorbent materials, use one of these treatments and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions if needed:
- Soak in hot tap water (50°C to 55°C) for at least 5 minutes, or
- Soak in 5% bleach solution (5-litre mix = 250ml bleach in 4.75 litres water) for an hour, or
- Freeze till solid (overnight), or
- Soak in salt solution at 100ppt (parts per thousand) (5-litre mix = 500g salt in 5 litres warm water) for 4 hours.
Dry – to be sure
- Gear: allow gear to dry to touch, inside and out, then leave it to dry for at least 48 hours (2 days) before using again.
- Watercraft: dry areas inside the watercraft where water has pooled, for example with an old towel, and then leave the craft to dry for at least 48 hours (2 days). The hull of a watercraft will dry when towed.
