15/04/2005 - The Australian
Government has signed an agreement with Victoria,
Tasmania and the Northern Territory supporting
a national approach to protecting Australia's
waters from introduced marine pests, Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry Minister Warren Truss,
and Environment Minister Senator Ian Campbell,
announced today.
Mr Truss, who signed the agreement in Darwin
at the 8th Natural Resource Management Ministerial
Council meeting in Darwin (15 April 2005),
said that South Australia had also signalled
its support, and would be signing on shortly.
Mr Truss said he and Senator Campbell looked
forward to the other States also coming on
board.
"The Intergovernmental Agreement on
a National System for the Prevention and Management
of Marine Pest Incursions represents a significant
milestone in protecting Australia's marine
industries and environment from invasive marine
pests," he said.
"The growing volume of trade - much
of it transported by ship - and the increasing
number of international visitors, means that
it is vital Australia takes a national approach
to tackling the associated risk of introduced
marine pests," he said.
Senator Campbell said this new agreement
sets out a framework for managing ballast
water and biofouling to significantly reduce
the risk of marine pests invading Australia's
waters.
"It will also help ensure our emergency
management and control measures are as effective
as possible."
Senator Campbell said that Australia's major
marine assets, such as the Great Barrier Reef,
as well as a host of important industries,
are under threat from introduced pests.
"The northern Pacific seastar, for example,
is in Tasmanian waters and Victoria's Port
Phillip Bay.
"It spreads quickly and can cause significant
damage to our fragile marine environment -
just as terrestrial pests such as cane toads
must be managed, so too must introduced marine
pests," he said.
Mr Truss said it was significant that the
signing had taken place in Darwin, as the
invasion and successful eradication of the
black-striped mussel in 1999 provided the
impetus for developing the national approach.
"The mussel invaded three marinas in
Darwin in March 1999, after probably arriving
on the hull of a foreign boat," he said.
"It cost $3 million to eradicate the
pest - a significant amount of money in any
one's language - but not when you consider
that marine industries worth hundreds of millions
of dollars and employing thousands of Australians
are at stake," Mr Truss said.
Much has already been done to develop the
national system, and both ministers commended
Australia's marine industries and conservation
groups for their support and involvement in
finding a solution this complex situation.
The Australian Government provided $3.7 million
over three years in the 2004-05 Budget to
develop the national system, and will provide
a further $3 million over two years - until
2006 - from the Natural Heritage Trust.
The Howard/Anderson Government will also
be working closely with the States, the Northern
Territory and industry to develop the cost-sharing
arrangements needed to implement the National
System.
A backgrounder on the Intergovernmental Agreement
on a National System for the Prevention and
Management of Marine Pest Incursions is attached.
Also attached are fact sheets on introduced
marine pests, developing a national approach
to fighting invasive marine pests and the
intergovernmental agreement itself.
Backgrounder
Intergovernmental Agreement on a National
System for the Prevention and Management of
Marine Pest Incursions
The signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement
on a National System for the Prevention and
Management of Marine Pest Incursions in Darwin
is a milestone in controlling marine pests
keeping them out of Australia's waters.
The IGA will ensure a coordinated approach
to managing introduced pests that will involve
all key stakeholders - the Australian, state
and Northern Territory governments, marine
industries, researchers and conservation organisations.
The invasion and successful eradication of
the black-striped mussel in Darwin in 1999
was a major trigger for developing a national
system and led to the 'National Taskforce
on the Prevention and Management of Marine
Pest Incursions' being established that year.
The Taskforce proposed the development of
a National System for the Prevention and Management
of Introduced Marine Pests, with three main
components:
Prevention: Systems and measures that will
effectively reduce the risk of introduction
and translocation of marine pests;
Emergency response: A system to ensure coordinated
emergency responses to any new incursions
and translocations;
Ongoing management and control: A coordinated
management system for the ongoing management
and control of introduced marine pests already
in Australian waters.
The formation of a High Level Officials Working
Group (HLG) in November 2002 began the process
of finding a way forward on the key issues
of funding, governance and legislative structures
for the National System.
Since then, much work has been done to develop
the National System. For example:
In 2001, mandatory ballast water management
requirements for international voyages to
Australia were established. Australia now
leads the world in ballast water management
and is contributing to advancing the International
Convention for the Control and Management
of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.
Draft guidelines for managing biofouling (marine
organisms that attach to vessels' hulls and
equipment) have been developed for marine
industries. Consultation and further risk
assessments are being undertaken before finalising
the guidelines.
Interim arrangements for emergency responses
to outbreaks of introduced marine pests have
been in place for three and a half years.
Emergency response cost-sharing arrangements
are also in place.
Locations for a national monitoring network
have been agreed and a strategy for monitoring
them for key existing pests and new pests
is being developed.
Many research projects have been implemented
to support policy and management measures.
These include:
risk analyses of all current pest species
and many possible future pests;
a ballast water decision support system;
genetic probes to easily detect the presence
of pests in seawater;
risk assessment of biofouling associated with
aquaculture; and
an investigation into the treatments of marine
pests in small vessels' internal waterways.
Strategies for communicating and evaluating
the National System are being developed.
Stakeholder involvement and consultation
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is coordinating
the development of the National System.
Stakeholder groups have been consulted and
involved in the process through the National
Introduced Marine Pests Coordination Group
(NIMPCG), chaired by DAFF. NIMPCG is responsible
for developing and implementing the National
System and comprises representatives from:
State and Northern Territory governments
Australian Government agencies (including
the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service,
the Department of the Environment and Heritage,
the Department of Transport and Regional Services
and the Australian Marine Safety Authority)
Industry stakeholders, including ports, shipping,
fishing and aquaculture industries
CSIRO Marine Research
Conservation groups
The Intergovernmental Agreement establishes
the responsibilities of governments for funding
and legislation under a nationally-consistent
approach and the National System is expected
to be fully in place before October 2006.
Further information: www.daff.gov.au/invasivemarinespecies
or www.deh.gov.au/coasts/imps/index.html
Fact Sheet 1
Introduced Marine Pests
What is an introduced marine pest?
Introduced marine pests are marine species
(including plants and animals), which are
not native to Australia and become a pest
in the Australian environment. They can have
a significant impact on marine industries,
the marine environment, coastal communities
and our economy.
It is estimated that more than 250 exotic
marine species have been introduced into Australian
waters, although not all have become pests.
Some that have invaded Australian waters include
broccoli weed (NSW, Tas and Vic), the Asian
mussel (Tas, Vic and WA ), the black-striped
mussel (eradicated from the NT ), the Caribbean
tubeworm (Qld), the giant fan worm (NSW, SA,
Tas, Vic and WA ) and the northern pacific
seastar (Tas and Vic).
How do marine pests get here?
Marine pests have been described as 'hitchhikers'
as they can be spread by attaching themselves
to boat hulls, anchor chains, fishing gear,
recreational equipment and internal compartments
of boats, which is known as biofouling. Pests
can also be transported in seawater systems
of boats, including inside pipes and in bilge
and ballast water.
Why are introduced marine pests a problem?
Introduced marine pests can cause significant
harm to marine industries, such as fisheries,
aquaculture, shipping, ports and tourism.
For example, the northern pacific seastar
is a voracious predator of commercially-farmed
shellfish and therefore has a huge impact
on aquaculture. Marine pests can radically
change the habitat of wild seafood species.
Boat hulls fouled with marine pests move more
slowly through the water and use more fuel.
Marine pests can be very costly to eradicate.
For example, the black-striped mussel invaded
three marinas in Darwin in March 1999, possibly
arriving on the hull of a visiting international
boat. The mussel cost $3 million to eradicate
in order to protect industries worth hundreds
of millions of dollars. This is one of few
examples of successful marine pest eradication.
The eradication of tens of thousands of northern
pacific seastars has had little effect on
the overall population, which is estimated
to have reached 12 million two years after
being detected in Port Phillip Bay.
Introduced marine pests also have a significant
impact on the environment. For example, the
northern pacific seastar can spread rapidly
and may prey on, or compete with, and displace
native species, affecting food chains. Marine
pests can severely affect biodiversity, marine
habitats and rare and endangered species.
By damaging marine habitats, marine pests
can reduce all Australians' enjoyment of coastal
and marine environments.
Fact Sheet 2
Developing the National Approach to Fight
Invasive Marine Pests
There has been significant progress in developing
several components of the National System,
such as the management of biofouling and ballast
water. Biofouling and ballast water are major
threats in the fight against invasive marine
pests.
It is expected the National System will be
developed to the point of implementation before
October 2006.
Ballast Water Management
Australia leads the world in ballast water
management. We are one of the few countries
to formulate and adopt effective ballast water
management measures to minimise the risk of
introducing harmful aquatic species to our
waters.
Ships coming from overseas must not release
foreign ballast water into Australian waters
unless it has been properly exchanged at sea.
Australian ballast water management requirements
are consistent with International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) guidelines. Recently, the
Australian Government, along with other IMO
members, agreed to the text of the International
Convention for the Control and Management
of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (the
Convention).
The Convention provides for the international
implementation of ballast water management
arrangements similar to those implemented
in Australia, by all IMO members.
Biofouling
Biofouling occurs when marine life, such as
algae or barnacles attaches to any surface,
including hulls, anchors or fishing gear.
Once attached, pests can be moved into and
around Australia.
Draft guidelines have been developed for
the fishing sector to minimise biofouling
and reduce the risk of marine pests being
transported. The guidelines address the use
of fishing vessels and gear and cover best
management practices to minimise marine pest
translocation risks.
Guidelines are being developed for other
marine sectors, including:
fishing;
aquaculture;
recreational vessels;
international yachts;
commercial trading ships;
vessels associated with the petroleum industry;
illegal entry vessels; and
foreign fishing vessels.
Implementation of these guidelines will be
based on regulations, biofouling certification,
codes of conduct and protocols. Consultation
and further risk assessments required for
developing the guidelines are underway.
Ongoing Management and Control
The Australian Government Department of the
Environment and Heritage (DEH) is coordinating
the management and control of marine pests
that are already in Australia. The development
of National Control Plans will be the key
mechanism for ongoing management and control
of marine species identified as having a potential
or actual significant impact on the marine
environment or marine industries.
The Control Plans will include objectives
and actions for pest control, research and
development priorities and administrative
arrangements for implementing a national approach.
They will ensure that the impacts associated
with a pest introduction are managed cost
effectively.
Emergency Response
Interim arrangements for emergency responses
to outbreaks of introduced marine pests have
been in place for three and a half years and
are coordinated by the Consultative Committee
on Introduced Marine Pest Emergencies (CCIMPE).
When an incursion or significant new translocation
of an introduced marine pest is found, CCIMPE
convenes to consider pest eradication action.
These arrangements are currently being reviewed
and refined. Interim cost-sharing arrangements
between Australian Government and the state
and Northern Territory governments are also
in place.
Fact Sheet 3
About the IGA
The purpose of the Intergovernmental Agreement
on a National System for the Prevention and
Management of Marine Pest Incursions is to
outline a framework to develop, implement
and continually improve the National System.
The National System will protect Australia's
marine industries and environment from the
devastating effects of introduced marine pests.
The Intergovernmental Agreement contains
the National System's objectives which are
to:
Prevent the introduction to Australia of
exotic marine species;
Prevent the translocation within Australia
of exotic marine species;
Provide emergency preparedness and response
capacity to respond to and where feasible
eradicate outbreaks of exotic marine species;
and
Manage and control exotic marine species where
eradication is not feasible.
The parties signing the Agreement agree on
the management measures to be implemented
under the National System and that it will
be underpinned by a risk management approach.
The Agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities
for implementing the three elements of the
National System - prevention, emergency management
and ongoing management and control - as well
as several supporting arrangements.
Signatories also agree that stakeholder engagement
is vital to the developing and implementing
the National System.
The Agreement also details arrangements for
the oversight, coordination and evaluation
of the National System.
Further information: www.daff.gov.au/invasivemarinespecies
