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in concentrations higher than the analytical method minimum detection limits – less than 0.010mg/kg dry weight." Diuron is a herbicide and algaecide used in over 100 products in Australia and New Zealand. The Australians recently reviewed its use. "The Australian authorities commenced a review of diuron on the basis of environmental and human health concerns, specifically the potential for diuron to contaminate the marine environment through agricultural runoff, with a noted lack of reference to AFPs. Of particular interest, although antifouling paints containing diuron are no longer permitted for use in the United Kingdom and Europe, the risk assessment approach undertaken in Australia, using a very conservative model, concluded that diuron antifouling use patterns in Australia did not present risks to aquatic organisms." We note that all of the named toxins in the report are currently available from any garden centre and are used in domestic gardens to control weeds and other undesirable garden growth. Likewise these same products are available, and in fact essential, for weed control and pasture management in farming and the management and control of weeds and noxious pests in horticulture, agriculture and forestry. Which means any residue is at risk of (and will continue) entering the marine environment via either rural or urban runoff through our stormwater systems, creeks, streams and rivers. Which begs the questions: • Just how robust is the international research on which the EPA appear to be basing their recommendations? • Where is the robust documented supporting evidence? • Where is the independent peer review? In returning to copper, we note the recent article by Kieran Campbell in the weekend Herald, January 26, where the author claims; "Boats' copper [is] leaching into Milford Sound." In this article the author quotes some outlandish claims that copper leaching from AFPs applied to boats working in the Sounds is destroying the local marine environment in Milford Sound. As previously stated, copper is a mineral found naturally in our coastal marine envirionment. In fact mining for copper was a recognised business in Fiordland and Milford Sound as late as 1914. We know the mines, batteries and smelters were close to shore and we also know that the Resource Management Act was not in effect at that time. What these old miners did back then was largely uncontrolled, with the resulting risk of high polution discharges of heavy metals into the marine environment. We raise this question to counter the environmentalists stated claims of blaming boats and AFPs in the media. As a result we know copper is found naturally in the marine environment and Fiordland has naturally high concentrations occuring in its near shore waters to no detrimental effect on the marine environment. The naturally occuring high levels of fresh water layers up to 10m in depth has a greater impact on marine growth in the intertidal zone than any detected levels of copper in AFPs, naturally occuring or otherwise. We understand that in the Fiordland example, the National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research scientists quoted did not physically check Fiordland, rather they based their damning statements on a model taken from Auckland's Westhaven Marina. Here we have the two extremes. Westhaven and Saint Mary's Bay have a centuries old history of commercial activity, with its many open slipways and boat building yards. It is now home to New Zealand's largest marina and is bounded by the northern motorway and Auckland's harbour bridge along with all its associated pollution and urban runoff that remains unchecked. Hydro-carbons, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, rubber residue and break lining dust all add to the mix, YOUR PREMIER MARINE FISHING PARTNER NAVIGATION COMMUNICATION Communications, VDR, Radar, ECDIS, Sonar, Monitoring, Depth and Fish Finders, Fleet Broadband, VSAT, BNWAS. Net Monitoring System. Net Monitoring Systems. TV antennas, VSAT, Fleet Broadband. TV antennas. Fleet Broadband, Mini VSAT. Satellite Airtime, Fleet/Fleet Broadband, Iridium, SatC. ECDIS, ECS. PC Software. YOUR MARINE ELECTRONICS EXPERTS www.enl.co.nz DISTIBUT S LE RV WE' R E OUT H E RE WITH Y OU! E SU P P O R 120 Dealers Nationwide. For further information Auckland - 09 373 5595 or Nelson - 03 548 4987 or visit www.enl.co.nz May/June 2013 Professional Skipper 17