Biosecurity, a policy dilemma for New Zealand

Abstract

Protection of New Zealand's native biodiversity and its primary production both depend on biosecurity measures to prevent invasion by alien, or exotic, organisms. At the same time, New Zealand's dependence on trade and travel in an increasingly globalised world places growing strain on the nation's biosecurity systems. Invasion by exotic species has potential for catastrophic impacts on both native biodiversity and human economic and social well-being. New Zealand's biosecurity policies have been gradually evolving from a narrow focus on production pests to a broader awareness of multiple economic, social and ecological objectives. This paper is about the process of reconciling conflicting objectives for biosecurity, with New Zealand as a case study example.

The avian acanthocephalan Plagiorhynchus cylindraceus (Palaeacanthocephala) parasitizing the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Europe and New Zealand

“…The reason for the limited occurrence is unknown but may reflect the recent colonization of New Zealand via the international airport or harbor at Auckland which receive large tonnages of foreign goods each year (Jay et al 2003). Other nonnative parasites or pests, such as the bee parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Zhang 2000), the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Ward et al 2005), and the fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Jay et al 2003) were first discovered in the Auckland area.…”

“…Other nonnative parasites or pests, such as the bee parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Zhang 2000), the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Ward et al 2005), and the fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Jay et al 2003) were first discovered in the Auckland area. Stevenson et al (2005) recorded the spread extending the range of V. destructor in concentric circles around the Auckland airport with a rate of expansion of 12 km per year.…”

The socioeconomic dimensions of biosecurity: the New Zealand experience

“…By contrast, the study of the socioeconomics of biological invasion is relatively more recent (Jay, Morad and Bell [8]; Robbins [9,10]). In an articulate contribution, Robins [10, p.139] argued, "It is not species but socio-biological networks that are invasive".…”

“…Maori have only recently become a significant voice in shaping conservationist policies (Morad and Jay [12]), and their input into biosecurity measures is yet to be realised (Jay et al [8]). …”

Biosecurity and wine tourism

“…However, some authors have noted the role of tourism as a factor in health and disease management, and the potential for particular types of tourism, such as ecotourism and food and wine tourism, to introduce diseases, pests, and weeds into locations where they did not previously exist (Hall, 1992;Rudkin & Hall, 1996;Jay, Morad, & Bell, 2003), while the outbreak of footand-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 and the SARS outbreak in 2003 also highlighted the relationship of tourism mobility with respect to biosecurity management (Sharpley & Craven, 2001;. In addition, debate has started to emerge as to who should pay the costs of providing biosecurity, with government in many countries seeking to place the costs of provision on to carriers and/or passengers (e.g., Pinfield, 2001).…”