Salt & Freshwater Organisms

What are the threats?

New Zealanders treasure their waterways. Our coastline and our rivers and lakes provide a pristine, natural playground for locals and tourists alike.

They are also the single most important environmental factor governing many industries and sectors across our economy.

But the arrival of an unwanted aquatic pest or disease can suddenly change all that – choking waterways or fouling our coast.

This section tells you about some of those threats to both our saltwater and freshwater environments – and what you can do.

Page last updated: 26 May 2009