AUSMEPA update on marine pests and threats

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The Australian Marine Environment Protection Association (AUSMEPA) has completely rewritten and updated the Marine Pests and Threats unit of work on its website.

The overhaul brings the website up to date with current practices and knowledge in Australia and in line with international requirements established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments 2004. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries provided information to help the upgrade.

According to AUSMEPA executive director Michael Julian, Marine Pests and Threats had been the first educational program put up on the AUSMEPA website back in 2003 and had been used by many thousands of school children seeking knowledge about the threat to Australian waters by the ship-borne invaders. The new website provides a vast amount of information on the issue of marine pests being brought to Australia in ships' ballast water and as hull-fouling, and what is being done by ships and the shipping industry to minimise future introductions.  

The website describes the worst offending species, such as the Northern Pacific Seastar, European Fan Worm and Japanese Kelp. It also explains why ships need ballast water, how they manage and treat their ballast water, the amounts of ballast water carried around the world by shipping, and explains the role of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) in overseeing the prevention of marine pests coming into Australia in ships' ballast water.

For more information, see www.ausmepa.org.au.

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