Aquatic biosecurity is a shared responsibility and you can play an important part by reporting anything unusual.
If you think you have seen or found an aquatic pest in a marine or freshwater environment, you can follow the steps below and report it.
Aquaculture licence holders should report via the WA aquaculture hotline, as per their licence conditions.
How to report an aquatic pest
- Location (GPS coordinates, address or nearest landmarks)
- Date and time
- Size
- Colour
- Water depth where found
- Environment (such as beach, sand, rock pools, in weed, on water, river, attached to structure)
- Photograph it as soon as possible, before preserving or refrigeration
- Photograph the entire sample undisturbed and include surroundings
- Photograph the sample close up; use an object for scale – ruler, coin, thumb
- Include any characteristic marks or colours
- Use a neutral non-reflective background
- Check that photos are in focus and well-lit
Report it to us through any of the following:
- Call FishWatch - 1800 815 507, especially if samples have been collected.
- Email aquatic.biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au (include photos if you have them).
- Your local DPIRD office
In most circumstances it is better to report the detection of a suspected aquatic pest using the steps above, before attempting to collect it. If you have caught a suspected aquatic pest (such as an Asian Paddle Crab in your crab pot), take photos, then store the sample/s in a ziplock plastic bag or plastic container.
Using a permanent marker record the date, your name and contact details, location it was found and any other details listed above in Record it on to the outside of the bag with the sample.
Store the sample in a cold esky or fridge. Do not freeze it (unless there is no other way to preserve it).
FishWatch will advise where you can drop off your sample - usually your local DPIRD office.
For further advice on storage contact aquatic.biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Contact us
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FishWatch 24-hour hotline