Why is marteiliosis a problem for New Zealand?
This disease can kill nearly all oysters it infects. If it got here, it could devastate our oyster populations.
How could it get here?
This disease infects bivalves. Bivalves are shellfish with 2 shells, like oysters. A shellfish infected with marteiliosis could hitchhike to New Zealand on a boat hull.
Even if you don't travel overseas, keeping your boat hull clean can stop pests and diseases spreading.
Where will I find it?
Marteiliosis can infect a range of bivalve species but is most likely to infect oysters.
How to identify marteiliosis
This disease looks like many other shellfish diseases.
Left: Healthy oyster. Right: Sick oyster with yellow, watery body. Image: R Adlard/DAWR
If you find any diseased oysters
- take a photo
- collect a sample
- record the location and landmarks
- call MPI on 0800 80 99 66
Find out more
Note: This information is a summary of this disease's potential impacts on New Zealand.
