An Auckland boatie keen to attend Beach Hop was turned home after hundreds of the devastating aquatic pest Mediterranean fanworm were found on the hull of his vessel moored in Whangamata harbour.
Mediterranean fanworm, also known as 'Sabella', is an invasive tubeworm that can establish in large colonies and will outcompete native species, such as mussels and scallops, for food and space.
So far it is only in a few New Zealand harbours and in the Waikato region it's been limited to Coromandel Harbour.
Waikato's harbour surveillance programme using Bay of Plenty Regional Council's dive team has been targeting popular boating havens for signs of fanworm.
The team was in Whangamata last Wednesday and discovered the fanworms on the hull of the Auckland-based vessel, which had only arrived in the harbour that morning.