|
Objective To prevent the introduction of exotic marine pests and diseases. Recommendation It is recommended that the State Government initiates the preparation and implementation of Port Authority Management Plans as required by the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997. Port Authority Management Plans should address State and National quarantine requirements and include a code of practice for ballast water discharge and hull and equipment cleaning. Key issues This information is available from Volume 2 of the last SoE Report (SDAC 1997), which can be downloaded. The final objective, final recommendation, and a summary of key management actions are detailed below. Actions taken There has been some progress in addressing the objective of this recommendation on Port Authority Management Plans since the last SoE Report (1997), including the following. - In the past management of introduced marine pests in Tasmania has been impeded by an uncoordinated approach at a National level and a lack of baseline data. Since the last SoE Report there has been a National Taskforce report, which addressed the issue of introduced marine pests in Australia (SCC/SCFA 2000). This report, which was endorsed by three ministerial councils, makes recommendations for prevention and management of introduced marine pests. This has led to a more coordinated approach to the problem nationally.
- Mandatory ballast water regulations were introduced by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service in 2001 whereby the majority of international vessels exchange their ballast en route to Australia. This reduces the risk that marine pests will be introduced to Tasmania via ballast water discharge. For ships that have not exchanged ballast water at sea (or used an equivalent on-board treatment system), an appropriate management option for ballast water treatment is applied through a Decision Support System to assess the risk posed by ballast water from individual ships.
- The Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests has developed baseline port survey protocols for introduced and cryptogenic (i.e. uncertain invasion status) species (Hewitt and Martin 2001).
- Baseline port surveys to determine the distribution and abundance of introduced marine species were completed in the Ports of Launceston and Hobart (including Triabunna) by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE).
- Surveys of all other major ports in the State and six minor ports/marinas are currently being organised by DPIWE and the relevant authorities through a Natural Heritage Trust Strategic Package project.
- DPIWE are working with the Ports to establish the longer term monitoring programs to maintain the currency of the port survey data and increase early warning capabilities.
- Education programs have been conducted to raise awareness, and to inform the public what boat owners, amateur aquarists and fishers can do to prevent the spread of marine pests. A marine pest section was included in the current General Sea Fishing Rules (2002), which is distributed to all recreational fishing licence holders. Education programs were also conducted in association with the baseline surveys of the Ports of Launceston and Hobart.
- An Introduced Marine Pest Emergency Response Plan was developed to provide a protocol in the event of new introductions.
- The Tasmanian Marine Farm Monitoring Project was set up as a trial program between 1998-1999 to raise awareness of marine pest issues in the Marine Farming Sector in south-east Tasmania. It also successfully assessed the potential for involving marine farmers in the early detection of marine pest incursion.
|
