What are marine pests?
Marine pests are highly invasive, non-native animals and plants that can cause significant harm to Tasmania's marine environment; outcompetiting native species, changing ecosystem health and function, and impacting industry, infrastructure and public amenity.
These pests can include a wide range of organisms, from microscopic algae to various species of sea stars, seaweed, fish, barnacles, sea squirts, mussels and crabs.
Australia has over 400 introduced and cryptogenic (unknown origin) marine species, including plants, animals and algae. Tasmania has 77 known introduced marine pests.
Where do marine pests come from?
Marine pests include all non-native marine species that arrive in Tasmania. This may be from other Australian waters or international waters. Many of these invaders can arrive:
accidentally through the aquarium trade,
attached to the hulls of ships that visit our ports, or
as larvae in ballast water.
Learn more about how you can reduce the spread of marine pests.
Why are marine pests a problem?
Due to their invasive nature, marine pests pose a significant threat to our marine biodiversity and economy. Marine pests reproduce quickly, often producing large numbers of offspring that can rapidly spread to new areas. Once marine pests become established, it is nearly impossible to eradicate them.
Marine pests can negatively impact native species by preying on them, and/or competing with them for resources such as habitat, light and food. Some marine pests may introduce new diseases and parasites into populations of native and commercially important species. Marine pests can also damage marine infrastructure and assets.
Many eyes on the ground: be part of citizen science!
Everyone has a responsibility to help protect our amazing natural marine environment. This involves preventing the spread of marine pests through your actions, and reporting suspected invasive species if you see one. Our ability to effectively respond to a new invasive species, and prevent it from becoming established, relies on early detection. A vigilant and engaged community is the cornerstone of Tasmania's general surveillance. So, as a community member, you are important, and your reports are valued.
Biosecurity Tasmania is asking you to help us better understand the distribution of five established marine pests, and to learn about five high risk marine pests that we don't want here, so that you can report if you see them. We are calling these our Priority Marine Pests.
Exotic marine pests - not here! not wanted!
Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
Black-striped false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei)
Brown mussel (Perna perna)
New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus)
Harris' mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii)
More information on each species, including key characteristics, is available on the Exotic Marine Pests page.
Marine pests already established in Tasmania
Help us better understand their spread
Northern pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis)
Asian kelp / Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)
European green crab (Carcinus maenas)
Soft-shelled clam (Mya spp.)
Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas)
More information on each species, including key characteristics and distribution, is available on the Established Marine Pests page.
Report a marine pest
If you think you've seen a marine pest that is not known to the location:
Record the location through a screen-shot of your location on a map, or the exact address, or GPS coordinates, or enable geo-tagging on your camera.
Take a photograph of the suspected marine pest. If possible: take multiple photos from different angles; include an object for size reference; take a photo in situ, including some habitat.
Report the sighting to the Invasive Species Branch.
More information
Stop the Spread (DAFF) - simple actions you can take to stop the spread of marine pests and protect our marine environment
National Introduced Marine Pest Information System (NIMPIS) - information on the biology, ecology and the Australian distribution of over 100 marine pest species, including marines pests that have been introduced to Australian waters and exotic marine pests that could be introduced in the future.
Fishing Tasmania (NRE Tas) - information on species you might come across in Tasmanian waters.