❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Department of Fisheries regarding the marine pest *Didemnum perlucidum* at Barrow Island, including eradication efforts, cross-agency collaboration, potential prosecution of Chevron, and biosecurity budget/staffing. The response details actions taken and planned.
AnsweredQoN 3442Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Further to Question on Notice No. 3188 of 11 November 2014: (a) As it is now three years since the marine pest Didemnum perlucidum was first detected at Barrow Island, has the Department of Fisheries put in place an eradication program in targeted, high value areas and if not, why not; (b) On what dates has the cross agency working group (referred to in question 3188) met and when is its work due to be completed; (c) Who are the members of the cross agency working group; (d) Who made the decision, and when, not to pursue prosecution of Chevron given that the pest was first detected on a Gorgon marine vessel in February 2012; (e) Was the advice of the State Solicitor’s Office sought on this matter; (f) What is the 2014-2015 Budget and number of employees (FTE) in the Department’s aquatic biosecurity team; (g) What was Budget and FTE in 2013-2014; and (h) When was the marine pest detected in each of the three aquaculture licence areas referred to in Question 3188?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 March 2015
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Fisheries
Response time
21 days
(a) There is presently no formal eradication program in place for
Didemnum perlucidum
. One of the key outputs of the cross agency working group is a predictive model which will be instrumental in determining if the pest can be eradicated in areas such as Barrow Island, without the risk of reintroduction from 'natural' spread by currents and tides. The model is due to be presented to the working group in March 2015.
(b) The working group met on 28/4/14 and 10/9/14; a modelling sub-committee of the working group met on 26/9/14, 28/10/14 and 28/1/15. In addition, there have been several out-of-session discussions. Recommendations from the working group are proposed to be available for the relevant Ministers by the end of 2014/15;
(c) The members of the cross-agency working group are senior officers from Departments of Transport, Agriculture and Food, Parks and Wildlife, and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. The group is chaired by a senior officer from the Department of Fisheries.
(d) Under the
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995
, there was little likelihood of a successful prosecution.
(e) No
(f) 2014-15 Budget - $2.89million, 20.2 FTEs across research, management and compliance, for both marine and freshwater biosecurity.
(g) 2013-2014 Budget - $2.89million, 20.2 FTEs across research, management and compliance, for both marine and freshwater biosecurity.
(h) Cockburn Sound mussel farms - confirmed March 2012; Cone Bay aquaculture precinct - confirmed August 2012; Cygnet Bay pearl farm - confirmed August 2012.
Didemnum perlucidum
. One of the key outputs of the cross agency working group is a predictive model which will be instrumental in determining if the pest can be eradicated in areas such as Barrow Island, without the risk of reintroduction from 'natural' spread by currents and tides. The model is due to be presented to the working group in March 2015.
(b) The working group met on 28/4/14 and 10/9/14; a modelling sub-committee of the working group met on 26/9/14, 28/10/14 and 28/1/15. In addition, there have been several out-of-session discussions. Recommendations from the working group are proposed to be available for the relevant Ministers by the end of 2014/15;
(c) The members of the cross-agency working group are senior officers from Departments of Transport, Agriculture and Food, Parks and Wildlife, and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. The group is chaired by a senior officer from the Department of Fisheries.
(d) Under the
Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995
, there was little likelihood of a successful prosecution.
(e) No
(f) 2014-15 Budget - $2.89million, 20.2 FTEs across research, management and compliance, for both marine and freshwater biosecurity.
(g) 2013-2014 Budget - $2.89million, 20.2 FTEs across research, management and compliance, for both marine and freshwater biosecurity.
(h) Cockburn Sound mussel farms - confirmed March 2012; Cone Bay aquaculture precinct - confirmed August 2012; Cygnet Bay pearl farm - confirmed August 2012.
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