Help Reduce the Translocation Risk
What is Translocation?
In the aquatic environment the term "translocation" refers to the movement of any material - including fish and aquatic plants - that exist or grow in water.
These translocations may have been carried out deliberately or accidentally - and the organisms concerned may be alive or dead.
When aquatic material is translocated beyond its natural distribution it may represents a risk to the aquatic environment into which it has been introduced - and can result in environmental, social and/or economic consequences.
Translocations occur for a number of reasons and may include:
- accidental movement of aquatic animals or plants within and into Western Australia, associated with the movement of food and other products;
- the supply/import of aquatic organisms for food markets;
- the supply/import of aquatic organisms for aquaculture purposes;
- the supply/import of aquatic organism for the aquarium trade; and
- the supply/import of bait for recreational and/or commercial fisheries.
The Risks Involved
In recent years, increases in the size of the aquarium trade, aquaculture production, live-fish marketing and bait requirements have raised the significance of translocation.
Every translocation of aquatic material that is carried out has its own associated levels of risks and benefits. The risks are largely dependent on the species involved, the number and type of areas where organisms are to be introduced, their potential to carry disease, and how/where they are to be contained.
Any of these activities can have environmental, economic and/or social consequences.
Environmental Consequences
The introductions of non-native plants, animals and diseases into countries around the world have resulted in a range of environmental consequences.
In Australia, the introduction of the European carp has been partly responsible for the degradation of many waterways, resulting in a decline in many native species. Likewise, the introduction of the European redfin perch has had a direct impact on native freshwater species, through predation on juvenile fish.
Economic Consequences
A wide range of economic consequences can occur as a result of the translocation of aquatic material.The introduction of a plant, animal or disease to an area may affect commercial, recreational or environmental activities being carried out and necessitate their review. As a result, it may be necessary to manage these activities in a different manner - and some may even need to be curtailed - in order to reduce the impact of the introduction and prevent any further spread of the introduced pest or disease.
These responses have associated costs that are likely to directly affect industry, government and the public. For example, the introduction of black striped mussels is likely to impact on the pearling industry, commercial and recreational boating and other marine structures, all with their associated costs.
In most situations following the introduction of a disease into the aquatic environment, some level of economic impact may have to be accepted. For example, in the event of the disease perkinsosis being introduced into WA abalone along the south coast, while it may be possible to limit the effect of the disease in some aquaculture operations, there would be little chance of controlling its impact on wild-caught fisheries and the consequent economic damage to commercial fishers.
Social Consequences
Any introduced pest or disease that results in significant environmental and economic consequences is also likely to have social consequences . These consequences may vary from requiring a relatively minor change in individual or community behaviour to having a major potential impact on community health.For example, there are a number of toxic dinoflagellates believed to have been introduced into Australian waters. These are known to produce toxins, which may be accumulated by filter feeding shellfish such as mussels, scallop and oysters. In turn any fish, bird or human consuming such shell fish may suffer from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Symtoms observed may include nausea, dizziness, tingling and numbness in mild cases, muscular paralysis and death from respiratory failure in extreme cases.
In general, the major risks associated with the translocation of an aquatic material are:
- diseases may be introduced at the same time; and
- introduced organisms that do not naturally occur in the area to which they have been introduced, may establish themselves and become pest species.
Management
To be successful, the management of the translocation of aquatic species must be carried out cooperatively by industry, government and the wider community.
However, certain government departments have specific responsibilities in this area. For example:
- The translocation of aquatic material in ballast water is regulated/managed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) through the application of mandatory ballast water requirements.
- The inter-state aquarium trade is regulated in WA by the Western Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (WAQIS), in order to prevent the introduction of aquatic plants and other aquatic pests. The translocation of fish species is managed by the Department of Fisheries in association with WAQIS.
- The aquaculture industry and activities associated with recreational fishing stock enhancement are managed by the Department of Fisheries in liaison with the Department of Environmental Protection.
- As a member of the community there are a number of ways you may help to avoid unnecessary translocation of aquatic material.
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