❓ WA Parliament questions the Department of Fisheries regarding the management and eradication efforts of the marine pest *Didemnum perlucidum*, including costs, Chevron's contribution, potential prosecution, and affected areas. The response reveals the pest's spread and ongoing efforts to manage it.
AnsweredQoN 3188Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Further to Question Without Notice No. 2921 asked in 2014, in which the Department of Fisheries says it has spent $1.23 million on research, compliance, policy and management of the marine pest Didemnum perlucidum in Western Australia: (a) what is the dollar value of the practical ‘in water’ effort to eradicate the pest; (b) given the pest was first detected on a Gorgon marine vessel in February 2012, what specific financial commitments have been sought by the Minister or Department and received from Chevron to assist in eradication efforts; (c) has the Department, as part of its aquatic biosecurity compliance responsibilities, considered prosecution of the company, and if not, why not; (d) what is the area in square kilometres in which the pest is now understood to have infested; (e) what Western Australian ports and marinas are now affected by this pest; (f) has the Department mapped the extent of the pest and if so, will it table the map; (g) has the Department made any specific approaches to other international biosecurity regulators where the marine pest is prevalent to discuss effective management approaches, and if not why not; (h) what percentage of the Barrow Island Marine Park and Marine Management Area are affected by this pest; and (i) has the marine pest reached any locations operating under aquaculture licences and, if so, which ones?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2014
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Fisheries
Response time
16 days
(a) There is no formal eradication program in place at this time for
Didemnum perlucidum
. A cross-agency working group has been established to assess the feasibility of eradication of the pest in targeted, high value areas. The costs of any future program are unknown at this stage.
(b) Chevron/Gorgon has agreed to assist in eradication efforts at Barrow Island if it is determined by the current cross-agency project that the pest can be effectively and efficiently eradicated with a low risk of re-introduction.
(c) Prosecution would be difficult without conclusive proof that a Chevron vessel was responsible for the initial incursion in the open oceanic system surrounding Barrow Island.
(d) Sampling is done at individual locations, rather than broadscale sampling. The total area infested in WA waters is unknown.
(e)
Didemnum perlucidum
has been confirmed in:
· Albany
· Ashburton North
· Barrow Island
· Cape Lambert
· Dampier
· Esperance
· Fremantle
· Hillarys
(f) The Department has mapped, and continues to update, the reported locations of this species.
[See Tabled Paper No. ]
(g) Yes - New Zealand has been impacted by
Didemnum vexillum,
a similar, but temperate, ascidian pest. Department scientists have liaised with relevant New Zealand and other ascidian scientists across the world in the preparation of the research paper -'Potential Eradication and Control Methods for the Management of the Ascidian
Didemnum perlucidum
in Western Australia'.
(h) The pest is yet to be confirmed as being in the substrate of the marine environment at Barrow Island, though it has been found on settlement plates, vessels, moorings and port infrastructure. There are unconfirmed reports that there may be small populations of the pest ascidian at Shark Point, Camp Point, and Bivalve Beach at Barrow Island.
(i) Yes - Cockburn Sound mussel farms, Cone Bay aquaculture precinct, and Cygnet Bay pearl farm.
Didemnum perlucidum
. A cross-agency working group has been established to assess the feasibility of eradication of the pest in targeted, high value areas. The costs of any future program are unknown at this stage.
(b) Chevron/Gorgon has agreed to assist in eradication efforts at Barrow Island if it is determined by the current cross-agency project that the pest can be effectively and efficiently eradicated with a low risk of re-introduction.
(c) Prosecution would be difficult without conclusive proof that a Chevron vessel was responsible for the initial incursion in the open oceanic system surrounding Barrow Island.
(d) Sampling is done at individual locations, rather than broadscale sampling. The total area infested in WA waters is unknown.
(e)
Didemnum perlucidum
has been confirmed in:
· Albany
· Ashburton North
· Barrow Island
· Cape Lambert
· Dampier
· Esperance
· Fremantle
· Hillarys
(f) The Department has mapped, and continues to update, the reported locations of this species.
[See Tabled Paper No. ]
(g) Yes - New Zealand has been impacted by
Didemnum vexillum,
a similar, but temperate, ascidian pest. Department scientists have liaised with relevant New Zealand and other ascidian scientists across the world in the preparation of the research paper -'Potential Eradication and Control Methods for the Management of the Ascidian
Didemnum perlucidum
in Western Australia'.
(h) The pest is yet to be confirmed as being in the substrate of the marine environment at Barrow Island, though it has been found on settlement plates, vessels, moorings and port infrastructure. There are unconfirmed reports that there may be small populations of the pest ascidian at Shark Point, Camp Point, and Bivalve Beach at Barrow Island.
(i) Yes - Cockburn Sound mussel farms, Cone Bay aquaculture precinct, and Cygnet Bay pearl farm.
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