MARINE PESTS Nothern Pacific seastar Asterias amorensis is a marine pest thought to have invaded Port Phillip in The introduction of marine pests threatens the the late 1990s. (Photography Department of integrity of marine biodiversity and may reduce the Sustainability and Environment). social and economic benefits derived from the marine environment. Most marine pests known from Victorian waters are limited to Port Phillip. Species of particular concern include the northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis), marine fanworm (Sabella Japanese kelp spallanzanii), (Undaria pinnatifida) and broccoli weed (Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides). Various human activities can lead to the introduction of marine pests to new areas. They include the discharge of ballast water and ships’ the dislocation of fouling organisms from the hulls of ships, small vessels or aquaculture equipment. Many of these activities require national and international action by industry, government and non- government organisations, along with action. Prevention is better than cure; therefore the priority The marine fanworm is a marine Sabella spallanzanii is to reduce the risk of new introductions. To date, pest that has invaded many parts of southern attempts to eradicate marine pests after they have Australia. (Photography Department of Sustainability become established have been successful only in and Environment). limited circumstances. Some eradication techniques, such as physical removal by hand or machine, need to be carefully considered, as they can make the situation worse. In the case of broccoli weed for example, physical removal can promote the spread of this pest to other areas, because this species can fully regenerate from small fragments of tissue that may be dislodged or left behind on rocks or pylons during removal.
MARINE PESTS The introduction of marine pests threatens the integrity of marine biodiversity and may reduce the social and economic benefits derived from the marine environment. Most marine pests known from Victorian waters are limited to Port Phillip. Species of particular concern include the northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis), marine fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii), Japanese kelp (Undaria pinnatifida) and broccoli weed (Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides). Various human activities can lead to the introduction of marine pests to new areas. They include the discharge of ships’ ballast water and the dislocation of fouling organisms from the hulls of ships, small vessels or aquaculture equipment. Many of these activities require national and international action by industry, government and non- government organisations, along with action. Prevention is better than cure; therefore the priority is to reduce the risk of new introductions. To date, attempts to eradicate marine pests after they have become established have been successful only in limited circumstances. Some eradication techniques, such as physical removal by hand or machine, need to be carefully considered, as they can make the situation worse. In the case of broccoli weed for example, physical removal can promote the spread of this pest to other areas, because this species can fully regenerate from small fragments of tissue that may be dislodged or left behind on rocks or pylons during removal. Nothern Pacific seastar Asterias amorensis is a marine pest thought to have invaded Port Phillip in the late 1990s. (Photography Department of Sustainability and Environment). The marine fanworm Sabella spallanzanii is a marine pest that has invaded many parts of southern Australia. (Photography Department of Sustainability and Environment).