Marine plants and animals can be transported across thousands of kilometres of ocean on the hulls of recreational, fishing and commercial vessels, and in the ballast water of ships. Most of these species will not survive the journey. But, if conditions are right, those that do survive can multiply in their new environment and become pests.
Hundreds of foreign ships call at the Port of Townsville each year, each bringing with them the risk of introducing marine pests into our waters through ballast water and hull fouling. In collaboration with James Cook University and the CRC Reef a survey of the Port of Townsville and adjacent marine areas was carried out with the aim to describe existing marine communities and determine whether any non-indigenous species, of pest status or otherwise, were present within the Port of Townsville and adjacent marine areas.
The survey found more than 1000 different marine species including some animals that are new to science. No introduced marine pests were found in the Port of Townsville.
The results of the survey were entered into the Decision Support System (DSS) for ballast water management managed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
In the event of a marine pest incursion a number of state and national agencies are involved. At a state level these agencies are the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Transport.
For more information about marine pests, visit these websites (links open in new window):
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Marine plants and animals can be transported across thousands of kilometres of ocean on the hulls of recreational, fishing and commercial vessels, and in the ballast water of ships. Most of these species will not survive the journey. But, if conditions are right, those that do survive can multiply in their new environment and become pests.
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