It was an eventful day for the Manaaki Te Awanui Research Trust at Tauranga Harbour, which made the first discovery of the Japanese mantis shrimp in the Bay of Plenty Region. As part of Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Asian Paddle Crab trapping programme, a single Japanese mantis shrimp (JMS) was captured in one of the traps near Ōmokoroa.
The invasive, non-native shrimp was first reported in New Zealand in Kaipara Harbour, Northland, in 2010. The closest known location to the Bay of Plenty where they have been identified is the Thames Harbour.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council marine biosecurity staff have formally identified the species and initial investigations are underway. Staff will be assessing the next steps for a response plan in the near future.