UppaCreek Ltd.

Didymo Alga & Gear Cleaning requirements:
This invasive alga looks like it’s here to stay. It very important that all visitors take this very seriously and do there bit to ensure they don’t spread this scourge and infect new waters. Presently it’s confined to the South Island and about 26 rivers

We will have all the gear and will no doubt clean your gear for you, however if you are planning to fish on your own make sure you get yourself set up to deal with it. I’ve heard quite a few stories of anglers still not doing their thing and cleaning their gear. This is simply unacceptable. All gear that has been in contact with the water must be cleaned before entering a new waterway or indeed relocating upstream.

If you are moving items between waterways you must -

1.  Inspect: Before leaving the river, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the affected site. If you find any later, do not wash them down drains. Treat them with the approved cleaning methods below, dry them and put them in a rubbish bin.

2.  Clean: Soak and scrub all items for at least one minute in either, hot (60°C) water, a two percent solution of household bleach or a five percent solution of salt, nappy cleaner, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing detergent. A two percent solution is 200 ml, a five percent solution is 500 ml (two large cups), with water added to make 10 litres.

3. Dry: If the above cleaning is not practical (i.e. livestock), after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.

To decontaminate felt soles:

Use rubber soles if you can otherwise careful treat your felts as follows;

4. Combining the power of heat with the power of detergent is highly recommended due to the inability of decontamination solutions at ambient temperatures to easily penetrate felt soles. The entire felt sole needs to be completely immersed for 30 minutes in hot tap water (45 to 50°C – uncomfortably hot to touch) containing at least 2% dishwashing liquid or nappy cleaner.

5.  If hot water alone is used, careful attention needs to be made to ensure the temperature of the water is maintained above 45°C for 40 minutes to ensure the interior of the felt reaches a sufficient temperature.

6. Alternatively, freezing the item until solid is effective.

7. Relying on drying is not recommended because of the difficulty in determining when the entire thickness of the felt is thoroughly dry.

8. These methods for decontaminating felt soles can also be applied to other dense, absorbent materials.

To ensure you do not spread Didymo, wherever possible use equipment, boats, clothing and other items for exclusive use in a single waterway.