In recent years, Hamnespy has spread along the coast from Stavanger and northwards. The unwanted species has now been discovered in both Florø and Måløy. – This is an alien species that has a high risk of affecting nature in Norway, says Ida Maria Evensen, who is a senior adviser at the Norwegian Environment Agency. Harbor spew lays like a blanket over the seabed and kills many species that are there. Now this continues to spread northwards, new mapping shows. Harbor spy DNA has now also been found in Bergen harbor and on Sotra and Stord. – This is a species that spreads easily, and that is why we are so concerned with preventing its spread and slowing it down. It has a big impact and we take a serious look at all spreading, she says. Have taken many samples A total of 251 water samples have been collected and analyzed for harbor spew DNA. These are drawn along the entire Norwegian coast from the Trondheimsfjord in the north to the outlet of the Oslofjord in the south. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) have carried out the vessel laying on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency. The harbor porpoise, or Japanese sea urchin, is an alien species that originally comes from Japan and has spread via ship traffic. Evensen says harbor spewing has serious consequences for life on the seabed. – It is a species that grows like a mat on the seabed and displaces other areas that live there. Harbor sewage will therefore negatively affect natural diversity in these areas. Extra check in the Oslofjord In Rogland, DNA was found at previously known locations, while none has been found in the Oslofjord. But since in 2022 harbor spit was found on the Kosterøyene in Sweden, close to the outlet of the Oslofjord, they have used extra resources to search here. – Several samples were taken in the area, but fortunately none of these showed findings of harbor sputum in the Oslofjord, says Ellen Hambro. In order to follow the development, the Norwegian Environment Agency provides a subsidy for the Oslo Fjords Outdoor Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research, to train divers and underwater camera pilots. They must carry out surveys in ports and areas where there is the greatest likelihood that the species can become established. Asking boat owners to follow the boating season is immediately in full swing. To prevent it from spreading further, you should keep an eye on the boat and fishing equipment, is the encouragement from the Norwegian Environment Agency. – If you have a leisure boat, fish or set out lobster traps, keep an eye on whether there is harbor vomit on it. Wash the equipment well before moving it. Hamnespy is a beige-brown species that lies like a mat on the seabed or on, for example, boats, ropes and the like in water. Harbor spud dies by drying out within a week, or in contact with fresh water for at least six hours. – But as of now, we have no methods that allow us to get rid of it completely. Therefore, we must try to limit the spread so that we have the least possible impact, says Evensen.
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Hamnespy spreads along the coast – news Vestland
