Aquatic pests: marine and freshwater

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Darwin Harbour marine pest annual reports

Due to the large number of international vessels visiting Darwin, there is a risk that marine pests can be introduced by sticking to vessel hulls.

The Aquatic Biosecurity Unit in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) regularly monitors and inspects the NT coastline, focusing on areas of high international and yachting activity to detect marine pests earlier.

For monitoring purposes, there are settlement devices in:

the four Darwin Harbour marinas
- Cullen Bay Marina
- Bayview Marina
- Tipperary Waters Marina
- Frances Bay Mooring Basin
Cullen Bay Pontoon
East Arm Wharf (EAW)
Fort Hill Wharf (FHW)
HMAS Coonawarra.

Other areas regularly monitored include Melville Island, Gove, Bladin Point and Wickham Point.

Annual reports

An annual low tide survey is done in the three wharves (EAW, FHW and Stokes Hill Wharf (SHW)) in Darwin Harbour, the wharf at HMAS Coonawarra and two exposed reefs near Catalina and South Shell Island.

Each of the sites are inspected for marine pests and notes the different types of marine fouling communities growing on wharf infrastructures such as walls, pylons, and marine chains. Photographs are taken of the marine biofouling communities at different heights.