It was thought that the highly invasive sea squirt

had taken hold at a Golden Bay mussel spat-catching farm, But an Institute biosecurity expert said a dive survey done revealed the sea squirt found was a native species but didemnum vexillum has been found on artificial structures at Port Tarakohe. It was not an extensive infestation, and appeared to be quite new and eradicable. Some eradication tools have been developed, which involve the removing of infected structures from the water, and drying them out. If the structures cannot be removed, they could be wrapped in plastic, to smother the sea squirt and left for nature to take its course. 

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