How are marine pests introduced?
Marine pests have been introduced into Australian waters in various ways, including in ballast waters, attached to the hulls of international ships, or imported deliberately as aquarium or aquaculture species. An estimated 250 introduced marine species have been introduced into Australian waters in these ways.
What impacts do they have?
Marine pests can have severe ecological and economic impacts. For example, they can take over large areas of habitat to the detriment of native species. Some prey directly on native species or compete with them for food.
Pest species can also cause considerable economic damage. Infestations of marine pests can impact on marine industries, such as aquaculture, commercial and recreational fishing and boating, tourism and even international and domestic shipping. Some marine pests, such as toxic dinoflagellates, can threaten public health.
What can you do to help?
Members of the public, including fishers, divers and members of local environmental groups, are sometimes the first to notice a new introduced marine species or the fact that an existing pest has spread into a new area. This information can be very valuable in helping to manage pest problems.
If you suspect you have identified a marine pest please report it!
Recreational vessel owners can help reduce the risk of introduction and spread of marine pests and diseases by managing the biofouling on their boats. Regularly inspecting your vessel and equipment after each trip, maintaining anti-fouling coating on your vessel hull and keeping records of your biofouling management all help keep your boat and the marine environment safe from unwanted hitchhikers. See the Biofouling Primefact for more on managing biofouling on your boat.
What is NSW DPIRD doing about marine pests?
NSW DPIRD is involved in the implementation of the national Marine Pest Plan 2019-2023 which aims to prevent the introduction and translocation of introduced marine species (by managing ballast water, biofouling and other vectors), strengthen the national marine pest surveillance system, provide a national emergency preparedness and response capacity for outbreaks, support national research and development and engage with marine pest stakeholders.
NSW DPIRD Chairs a multiagency and stakeholder working group that is tasked with providing input into NSW marine pest management actions and to provide a forum to discuss national marine pest policy issues. This group discusses national policy issues and coordinates NSW responses to marine pest or suspect marine pest detections.
NSW DPIRD also has an extensive advisory program to raise awareness of marine pests including how to identify marine pests and how to help prevent their spread. For more information see links below to marine pest publications:
Biofouling: Marine biosecurity awareness
What is biofouling?
Marine pests and diseases pose a significant threat to the benefits we derive from the NSW Marine Estate and are a key stressor on our marine environment. Vessel movement is the key vector for transporting non-native marine invasive species throughout Australia and globally, with biofouling posing one of the most significant threats to these marine environments and ecosystems. Biofouling is the accumulation of organisms, plants, algae and other marine life on submerged surfaces. To learn more, please read the Biofouling Primefact.
The Project
NSW DPIRD has been working to increase awareness of marine pests, their impacts and how to report them, with funding support from the Marine Estate Management Strategy 2018-2028 (MEMS). Since 2020, a small project commenced with an initial focus on small to medium sized recreational vessels that stay moored or berthed in NSW waters while in the marine estate, or while in NSW if transiting. The early stages of the project involved the delivery of a baseline social research project with Charles Sturt University to identify the drivers, benefits and barriers to managing biofouling on these recreational vessels. The outcomes of this social research are published in the journal Environmental Management. This research showed that while there is a good understanding among boat owners of responsibilities when protecting the marine environment, more communication about marine pests and how to identify and manage them was needed.
Using the insights from this social research, project team set to work on developing and delivering a targeted communications and behaviour change program, to increase awareness of marine pests, knowledge of reporting details, and attempt to reduce marine pest risk posed in biofouling on these vessels.
In 2024, follow up monitoring and evaluation social research was completed to evaluate how effective communications have been and what has worked well or could be improved. The outcomes of this research are also published in the journal Environmental Management. This research showed that engagement with service providers to these recreational vessels would be of benefit.
From 2025, the project proposes engagement with service providers, such as marinas, slipway operators, mooring contractors and port users. More detail of project outcomes will be provided when available.
This project is funded by the NSW Government under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The ten-year Strategy was developed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority to coordinate the management of the marine estate.
How you can help
If you are a recreational boat owner, you can help reduce the risk by Making Clean Part of your Routine!:
- Regularly inspect and remove marine debris from vessels and equipment after each trip
- Maintain an antifouling coating on your vessel hull
- Keep records of biofouling management
- Checking, cleaning and if possible, drying your boat, before moving to new areas
- If you notice something that isn’t right, or suspected you have identified a marine pest or disease, please report it by calling 1800 675 888.
Partners
Charles Sturt University
