Victorian Port Surveillance Program

Since 2021 Agriculture Victoria, as the lead agency for marine biosecurity in Victoria, has implemented a marine surveillance program across the ports of Melbourne, Western Port, Portland and Geelong.

The 4 international ports are monitored using a combination of surveillance tools to target marine pest life stages from larvae to settled juveniles and adults. Aluminium box arrays with PVC settlement plates target mature life stages and eDNA water samples target larval stages.

Four additional ports – Queenscliff Harbour, Barry Beach Marine Terminal and the local ports of Apollo Bay and Gippsland Lakes – were included in the program for the 2024–25 year.

Hydrodynamic modelling across the ports was used to inform the preferred locations for surveillance activities. Arrays are deployed where they provide the best surveillance outcomes while not interfering with port operations and where they will be protected from environmental and physical disturbance.

Surveillance activities occur for 2 months on a biannual basis (summer and winter) to capture differences in seasonality and ensure the greatest likelihood of marine pest detection.

Please contact marine.pests@agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information.

If you suspect you have seen a marine pest, you can report it via the website, www.vic.gov.au/marine-pests