Australia – Australian Biofouling Management Requirements-DAWE
80-2022: Australian biofouling management requirements – DAWE
An industry advice notice, 80-2022: Australian biofouling management requirements – DAWE, was released to inform stakeholders of new biofouling management requirements for vessel arrivals beginning on 15 June 2022.
All operators of vessels will need to provide information on their biofouling management practices prior to arriving in Australia. The department’s pre-arrival report will include 4 new questions relating to biofouling management practices. Vessel operators will need to demonstrate proactive management of biofouling.
The biofouling questions on the pre-arrival report will include:
- Does the vessel have an effective biofouling management plan?
- Has the vessel been cleaned of all biofouling within 30 days of arriving in Australia?
- Does the vessel have an alternative biofouling management method that has been pre-approved by the department?
- Do you intend to in-water (underwater) clean biofouling in Australia?
The department will be taking an education first approach to enforcing the new requirements between 15 June 2022 and 15 December 2023 to improve the effectiveness of vessel biofouling management plans. Managing vessel biofouling not only reduces the risk of harmful marine plants, animals and organisms entering our waters, but also helps improve vessel performance and efficiency.
Powers under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will continue to be used to manage unacceptable biosecurity risks associated with biofouling during this period.
More information about managing biofouling in Australia can be found on
https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/aircraft-vessels-military/vessels/marine-pest-biosecurity/biofouling
Or you can refer to National Marine Pest Biosecurity
https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/marine-pests
