After six weeks of trapping government agency says there is no further evidence of Queensland fruit fly in Auckland’s Mount Roskill
Biosecurity New Zealand has lifted controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Auckland’s Mount Roskill, after stating there was no further evidence of Queensland fruit fly in the area.
The decision to end the operation followed 6 weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and the inspection of more than 230kg of fruit.
Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north thanked residents and businesses in the affected area for their support of the response.
“Every person who has kept an eye out for fruit flies, complied with movement controls, and safely disposed of their fruit waste, has played an important role in protecting our horticultural sector,” Inglis said.
“We are satisfied that with no further detections, the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations closed.”
While response operations are ending, Biosecurity New Zealand’s routine nationwide surveillance will continue, with a system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country. More than 4,600 of these are in the Auckland area.
“The surveillance traps target three exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Oriental fruit fly,” Inglis explained. “This successful response is a great example of how surveillance traps help alert us to the presence of unwelcome pests and enable us to stamp them out quickly.”
Biosecurity New Zealand staff were out in the community this week handing out flyers about the response closure and personally thanking residents and business owners for their contribution to the effort.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the good work of our people and our partners across the horticulture sector,” Inglis said. “By working together, and responding quickly, we have managed this situation well.”
