Int'l yachts face biosecurity checks in New Zealand

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-10 20:15:18|Editor: ZD
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WELLINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- International yachts arriving in Northland of New Zealand this summer will face additional biosecurity checks by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

MPI is teaming up with New Zealand Customs and the NZDF focusing on Northland as the arrival point for most international yachts visiting New Zealand, a MPI statement said on Friday.

MPI is expecting nearly 500 craft to arrive in the region this season.

"Our main objective is to stop fruit fly entering New Zealand. But there are also other everyday items carried by vessels that have biosecurity risks, including various foods carried in the stores. We even come across live animals from time to time," said MPI Team Manager of North Ports James Reed.

Similar to previous seasons, MPI has sent extra staff to the region to allow intensive inspection of incoming vessels, Reed said.

MPI quarantine officers will also coordinate directly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft and the Royal New Zealand Navy's Seasprite helicopters to carry out surveillance from the Northland coastline, he said.

"Our Orion aircraft provide early warning of yacht arrivals while the Seasprite conducts surveillance of the Northland coastline to ensure all vessels have been checked," Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander, said in the statement.

Reed said that the NZDF's surveillance missions will help identify incoming yachts and any that attempt to seek shelter in local coastal bays prior to arriving at their designated port of arrival, which is an offence under the Biosecurity Act.

"Small craft intending to enter New Zealand are required to submit advanced notice advising their intended place of arrival and providing detail about the vessel and crew," Reed said, adding that they are then required to be cleared by MPI officers at a designated port of first arrival that is geared up to handle any biosecurity risk.

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