Biosecurity

Animal biosecurity focuses on keeping diseases away from animals. This includes protecting livestock like cows, sheep, and chickens from infections that can spread and cause harm. Farmers and vets use strategies like vaccination, monitoring animal health, and controlling movements to stop diseases from spreading.

There are many animal threats which we want to keep out of Australia, to ensure our animals and environment stay safe. A few animal threats that are in near neighbouring countries are Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, Rabies and African Swine Fever. It’s important that we all do our bit to help care for country through biosecurity.

Plant biosecurity in Australia protects agriculture, ecosystems, and biodiversity from harmful pests, diseases, and weeds. With unique plant species and valuable crops, the country is particularly vulnerable to invasive threats. Strong biosecurity practices help prevent damage to food production while safeguarding exports and preserving the environment for future generations.

Many plant threats have the potential to impact Australia; Huanglongbing is an infectious disease of citrus like lemons and limes, which can overwhelm and kill the trees.

Aquatic biosecurity is all about keeping our oceans, rivers and waterways, free from harmful pests and diseases that could impact native aquatic life, habitats and our way of life.  Measures like inspecting international ship arrivals and reporting illegal fishing vessels are all part of aquatic biosecurity processes and surveillance programs to manage the risks. These steps help protect our aquatic ecosystems, ensuring a strong seafood industry, healthy fish stocks for recreational fishers and a thriving marine environment. It also protects the cultural values and sea country of First Nations people.

There are many marine pests, and disease threats which we want kept out of Australia’s waterways and to ensure wildlife and environment stay healthy. A few marine pest threats that are in near neighbouring countries that we are looking out for are the Asian green mussel, Charru mussel, Harris’ mud crab, Chinese mitten crab, and the Asian basket clam. It’s important that we all work together to care for waterways and marine life through our biosecurity actions.

Weeds pose a significant threat to the NT’s economy, environment and people. In the NT at least $15 million is spent every year on weed management. Preventing weed entry and spread is by far the cheapest and most effective form of weed management. The NT is vast, covering over 1.3 million km2 with a population of around 250,000 people. To reduce weed spread, we need to cooperate.

Weeds don’t recognise property or political boundaries. Once a weed has become established, eradication is often impossible because of the high costs. The costs of protecting assets including productivity, infrastructure or the environment are with us forever.

Siam weed is an example of a key threat, known as one of the most aggressive and damaging tropical weed species worldwide and which is now found in some parts of the Top End of the NT.