2. Biodiversity and biosecurity data

2.1 Data Source

2.1.1 Biodiversity

In June 2000, the New Zealand Government launched a comprehensive five-year Biodiversity Strategy which included programmes to increase our knowledge of marine biodiversity and knowledge of invasive species for maintaining biosecurity. These programmes support the strategy's goal to halt the decline in New Zealand's biodiversity and the government's strategic goal of protecting and enhancing the environment.

This marine biodiversity and biosecurity database is designed to hold any data collected within the framework of the Mfish Marine Biodiversity and Biosecurity programmes.

2.1.2 Biosecurity

The Ministry of Fisheries is the main government agency with the job of managing risks to our marine environment, from exotic species that could become established in New Zealand waters through the discharge of ballast water, as fouling on vessel hulls or by other means.

The marine biodiversity and biosecurity database is also designed to hold data about the presence/absence and spatial distribution of these marine non-indigenous species from Mfish marine biosecurity research projects.