National Biosecurity Week highlights the important role biosecurity plays in protecting the Northern Territory’s environment, industries, economy and way of life from pests, diseases and invasive species.
National Biosecurity Week runs from 24 to 30 August and encourages all Australians to play their part in safeguarding the places, industries and natural environments they value.
While many people think biosecurity happens at airports, aquatic biosecurity is also critical, with marine and aquatic pests capable of entering the Territory through sea pathways.
Aquatic Biosecurity Manager Brett Herbert from NT Fisheries is one of those people helping safeguard the Territory from aquatic pests and diseases.
For Brett, biosecurity is about protecting the things Territorians value every day, including healthy waterways, great fishing opportunities, and strong aquaculture and pearling industries.
“People are often surprised by how much biosecurity covers. It can be anything from a marine pest in a marina, a fish disease, an aquatic weed in a dam, a ghost net or an unusual animal sighting,” Brett said.
One project Brett and his team are working on is monitoring the Black Scar Oyster, an introduced oyster species first detected in a Darwin marina in 2025. Since then, ongoing surveillance has helped build a better understanding of the species and its presence in the Territory.
“Early detection is critical when it comes to marine pests. The sooner we know what is in our waters, the more options we have to manage potential risks and protect our aquatic environments,” he said.
To keep watch for marine pests, the team uses everything from high-tech molecular techniques to simple but effective tools like “nets and buckets”. Another tool they use is called a settlement array. It provides a surface for marine life to settle on, allowing the team to regularly check which species are present and detect new marine pests as early as possible.
A typical day for Brett involves answering enquiries about vessel entry into a marina, responding to queries about unusual fish diseases, advising on the entry into the NT of fish and aquatic plant species, liaising with pearl producers, checking in with the Northern Australian Biosecurity Surveillance Network about neighbouring state pest incursions, and reviewing national biosecurity preparedness documents.
These activities help prevent the entry and spread of pests and diseases that could adversely impact industry, the environment and the amenity of aquatic environments, while supporting businesses to respond and adapt to changing circumstances.
The role also sees Brett working closely with industry, Aboriginal Ranger groups, schools and other biosecurity experts to raise awareness about aquatic biosecurity and the importance of protecting Territory waters.
For Brett, biosecurity is ultimately about protecting the places and experiences that make the Northern Territory unique.
“Biosecurity helps maintain our way of life and our ability to enjoy the great outdoors, catch a feed of fish, longbums or mud mussels, and experience healthy aquatic environments full of diversity and colour.”
Whether you’re a fisher, boater, traveller or simply enjoying the outdoors, everyone has a role to play in helping prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
National Biosecurity Week is a reminder that protecting our environment, industries and way of life is something everyone can help with. If you see something fishy, report it by calling 1800 891 136.
