BIA Victoria - Marine Pests

Marine Pests

Victoria’s marine life is under threat from introduced marine pests. Port Phillip Bay is heavily infested with pests like the northern Pacific seastar and Japanese kelp.

Japanese kelp. Photo courtesy of CSIRO

Introduced marine species hitchhike from international or interstate waters on vessels big and small. They can be carried by ships, fishing boats, dinghies, cruisers, yachts, canoes, kayaks or even on fishing gear.

If your boat has been in infested waters, there could be marine pests on board:

  • Attached to the hull
  • Tangled in the anchor, propeller, trailer, rods, nets, life jackets
  • In damp places like the bilge, coiled wet ropes, pipes or buckets

You can help stop pests spreading by keeping your boat and gear clean and dry.

The BIA has developed some simple steps you can take to make sure your boat is clean and free of marine pests:

Click here if you moor your boat (yachts, cruisers etc)

Click here for trailer boats, canoes, kayaks and jetskis