FRUIT FLIES AND EXOTIC PESTS A TARGET AT PORT OF TOWNSVILLE
Published Thursday, 08 February, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Exotic fruit flies are high on the list of priorities for biosecurity inspectors from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries who are ramping up their surveillance activities at the Port of Townsville.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said plant biosecurity inspectors will this year invest considerable time surveying areas earmarked as being at high risk of harbouring exotic pests and diseases – such as around the Port of Townsville and airport facilities.
“Through the Plant Biosecurity program, DPI&F does a lot of work behind the scenes to protect Queensland primary industries from exotic pests and diseases,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The papaya fruit fly outbreak in north Queensland in 1995 had a major impact on Queensland horticulture – not only the millions of dollars it cost to eradicate, but also the serious effect on growers in having to meet quarantine restrictions for export.
“Although Queensland has been free of the fruit fly since 2000, DPI&F is certainly not dropping its guard.”
As part of their ongoing work to protect Queensland primary industries from exotic pests and diseases, DPI&F plant biosecurity officers conduct regular surveillance at the State’s ports, in a bid to identify incursions - although rare - before they have the opportunity to inflict damage on crops and affect market access.
While the Federal Government’s Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for ensuring exotic pests and diseases do not enter Australian shores, including through the local Port of Townsville, DPI&F biosecurity inspectors are tasked with identifying, managing and identifying diseases if they do spread from port confines.
“In continuing their surveillance the Department is reducing the risk of a major fruit fly or other exotic pest or disease outbreak occurring again,” Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said.
“As well as undertaking surveillance at the local Port of Townsville, DPI&F manages strategically placed trapping throughout Queensland in high risk locations including urban areas around eight ports and in remote parts of the Cape York Peninsula.”
Through the DPI&F plant biosecurity Program, Queensland has stringent processes in place to ensure the local industry remains sustainable and profitable.
Media: 323 96530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said plant biosecurity inspectors will this year invest considerable time surveying areas earmarked as being at high risk of harbouring exotic pests and diseases – such as around the Port of Townsville and airport facilities.
“Through the Plant Biosecurity program, DPI&F does a lot of work behind the scenes to protect Queensland primary industries from exotic pests and diseases,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The papaya fruit fly outbreak in north Queensland in 1995 had a major impact on Queensland horticulture – not only the millions of dollars it cost to eradicate, but also the serious effect on growers in having to meet quarantine restrictions for export.
“Although Queensland has been free of the fruit fly since 2000, DPI&F is certainly not dropping its guard.”
As part of their ongoing work to protect Queensland primary industries from exotic pests and diseases, DPI&F plant biosecurity officers conduct regular surveillance at the State’s ports, in a bid to identify incursions - although rare - before they have the opportunity to inflict damage on crops and affect market access.
While the Federal Government’s Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for ensuring exotic pests and diseases do not enter Australian shores, including through the local Port of Townsville, DPI&F biosecurity inspectors are tasked with identifying, managing and identifying diseases if they do spread from port confines.
“In continuing their surveillance the Department is reducing the risk of a major fruit fly or other exotic pest or disease outbreak occurring again,” Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said.
“As well as undertaking surveillance at the local Port of Townsville, DPI&F manages strategically placed trapping throughout Queensland in high risk locations including urban areas around eight ports and in remote parts of the Cape York Peninsula.”
Through the DPI&F plant biosecurity Program, Queensland has stringent processes in place to ensure the local industry remains sustainable and profitable.
Media: 323 96530