Keeping marine pests out of Australian waters
by Boating Industry Association 27 Jun 2018 15:35 PDT
Australia's unique marine environment is important for our way of life and prosperity. It supports numerous industries such as fishing, aquaculture and tourism, which are important to our national and regional economies.
Our marine environment is also integral to our leisure and recreation, with most Australians living near the coast and enjoying a variety of activities such as fishing, boating, swimming and SCUBA diving. Ensuring a healthy and thriving marine environment allows current and future generations to continue to enjoy these diverse economic and recreational opportunities.
Everyone has a role to play in keeping pests out of Australian waters and to support this, the Australian Government has published a new national strategic plan for marine pest biosecurity in Australia: MarinePestPlan 2018–2023. The plan details a series of activities to address national priorities for marine pest biosecurity, including improved marine pest prevention, strengthened surveillance, enhanced emergency response capability, support for research and development, and greater stakeholder engagement.
A recommended read for all members of the boating community, the plan is available here.