Biosecurity Tasmania

Australia is free from foot-and-mouth disease. Let’s keep it that way!
- Have a biosecurity plan in place for your property
- Don’t feed meat, or products that have been in contact with meat, to pigs
- Monitor your livestock for any signs of disease and contact your vet if you have any concerns
- If your animals are displaying symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease, report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888

Learn more about protecting your animals at https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/

TasFarmers Sprout Tasmania Animal Health Australia Dairy Tas

The Tasmanian Cat Management Plan Achievements 2017-2022 report has been released. The report outlines the key achievements by cat management stakeholders across Tasmania against the strategic objectives of the Tasmanian Cat Management Plan 2017-2022 (the Plan).

A new Tasmanian Cat Management Plan 2024-2029 is currently in development by NRE Tas in consultation with key stakeholders. The new Plan, to be released later this year, will provide a revised framework for cat management in Tasmania for the next five years that incorporates the experiences and knowledge gained during the implementation of the current Plan. NRE Tas will seek feedback from the public on a draft of the new Plan prior to its release.

For more information and for a copy of the Tasmanian Cat Management Plan Achievements 2017-2022 report visit the NRE Tas website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/responsible-cat-ownership/tasmanian-cat-management-plan

Come and say hello to our friendly team tomorrow at the Huon Small Farms Expo. The team will be at the Biosecurity Tasmania stall to discuss all of your biosecurity questions throughout the day. We will also be participating in forum discussion at 12.45. We can't wait to see you there! 🌿

🐝 BeeTAS is NOW LIVE! 🐝

Biosecurity Tasmania is excited to announce that BeeTAS, our new online beekeeper registration portal, is now LIVE. BeeTAS can be accessed at https://nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration

Beekeepers can now:
🐝 log in to register or renew their registration
🐝 view and maintain their apiary site information
🐝 record inspection details, record hive purchases, disposals and hive movements
🐝 upload training certification and laboratory results

If you have registered as a beekeeper in Tasmania since December 2022, your information will be automatically carried across to BeeTAS. You will be able to log into BeeTAS using the email you provided when you first registered. If you have not re-registered since December 2022, you can now easily do so with BeeTAS!

If you need assistance with registration, have limited online access or have other queries on the BeeTAS system, please contact Biosecurity Tasmania at [email protected].

For more information on BeeTAS, visit: https://nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania NRM North NRM South Cradle Coast NRM Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Biosecurity Tasmania Biosecurity Tasmania is a division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

🐝 BeeTAS coming soon!! 🐝

Biosecurity Tasmania we will soon be implementing a new online portal to assist beekeepers with managing their beekeeper registrations. BeeTAS will increase Biosecurity Tasmania’s ability to respond to honeybee pest and disease detections.

Please be aware that our online beekeeper registration form is currently closed to allow us time to set up BeeTAS. If you wish to register as a new beekeeper, please be patient while BeeTAS is being prepared for launch. We will let everyone know when it is up and running.

Our beekeeper registration webpage is still available to view the conditions of registration and read more information about BeeTAS: https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/bees/beekeeper-registration

If you have registered as a beekeeper in Tasmania since December 2022, your information will be automatically carried across to BeeTAS. You will be able to log into BeeTAS using the email you provided when you first registered. If you have not re-registered since December 2022, you will soon be able to easily with BeeTAS!

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Sprout TasmaniaFruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania NRM South NRM North Cradle Coast NRM Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania
https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/bees/beekeeper-registration

Compulsory registration for Tasmanian beekeepers | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Information about the now compulsory registration of beekeeping in Tasmania. Under the Biosecurity Act 2019 and Biosecurity Regulations 2022, beekeeping in Tasmania is a 'regulated dealing' meaning a person enaging in such must be 'registered'.

🐝 Are you a Tasmanian Beekeeper? 🐝

Over the coming weeks, Biosecurity Tasmania will be launching a new online portal to assist beekeepers with managing their beekeeper registration. Within the new BeeTAS system beekeepers can:

🐝 register or renew their registration
🐝 maintain their apiary site information
🐝 record inspection details, hive purchases, disposals and hive movements
🐝 upload training certification and laboratory results

Our current online registration form closed on 7 November to allow time to setup BeeTAS.
If you wish to register as a beekeeper from 7 November, please be patient while BeeTAS is being prepared for launch. We will let everyone know when it is up and running.

If you have registered as a beekeeper in Tasmania since December 2022, your information will be automatically carried across to BeeTAS. You will be able to log into BeeTAS using the email you provided when you first registered. If you have not re-registered since December 2022, you will be able to easily with BeeTAS!

For more information, please visit https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/bees/beekeeper-registration

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania NRM South NRM North Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Compulsory registration for Tasmanian beekeepers | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Information about the now compulsory registration of beekeeping in Tasmania. Under the Biosecurity Act 2019 and Biosecurity Regulations 2022, beekeeping in Tasmania is a 'regulated dealing' meaning a person enaging in such must be 'registered'.

Attention: Beekeepers 🐝🐝
Biosecurity Tasmania recognises that swarm season is upon us and supports the capturing of swarms. However, if you are within the Devonport 5km Bee Movement Restriction Area, and wish to capture swarms, you must first contact Biosecurity Tasmania on (03) 6165 3777 to obtain a free permit.

This process will allow our officers to record the location of the swarm and the intended destination. Traceability plays a key role in a successful response and will be vital if more small hive beetles are found. In the case of established feral nests, this will also enable officers to inspect the remaining comb for any traces of small hive beetle.

For those not seeking to capture wild swarms, we still ask that you report any swarm or feral colony sightings to Biosecurity Tasmania as soon as possible on (03)6165 3777 or [email protected]

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers AssociationTasmanian Institute of Agriculture Sprout TasmaniaFruit Growers TasmaniaTasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationNatural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health AustraliaLocal Government Association of TasmaniaNRM SouthNRM NorthAustralian Honey Bee Industry CouncilTasmania Parks and Wildlife ServiceHydro Tasmania

Diwali (the Festival of Lights) begins on November 12 this year. 🪔

If you’re celebrating with family and friends, remember that some gifts and offerings containing plant and animal material from overseas have the potential to carry serious biosecurity risks.

❌ Do not bring or send the following to Australia:
🍰 Sweets (mithai) such as burfi, ras malai, rasgulla and pedas
🥛 Products containing dairy
🌿 Fresh and dried fruit, raw nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and tea
💐 Flowers and plant material.

Penalties of up to $6,260 apply for breaching Australia’s biosecurity laws, and your visa may be cancelled!

✅ Items that do not pose a biosecurity risk and are permitted include:
🌹 artificial flowers
🟡 fabric, gold or silver beads and coins
🖼️ personalised photo items.

Have a happy Diwali and remind friends and family to check Australia’s biosecurity import conditions before bringing or sending goods. Learn more here: https://brnw.ch/21wDY8b

Keeping a home aquarium is a very popular Australian past time. Just as you care for your fish health, you must also consider the health of our environment when cleaning your fish tanks and disposing of the liquid and plant waste.

Many of the current aquatic w**ds in Australia were introduced through the inappropriate disposal of aquarium plants that have escaped and have had a major impact on our rivers and waterways.
Consider composting your aquarium plant waste, and don’t dispose of fish tank water in locations where it can enter the aquatic environment and cause irreparable damage.

Be sure to check that the aquarium plants you might buy online are permitted to be imported into Tasmania.https://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/Plant%20Biosecurity%20Manual%20Tasmania.pdf

We all have a general biosecurity duty to help protect Tasmania from pests, w**ds and diseases, so take care next time you do a spring clean of your fish tank. https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/general-biosecurity-duty-(gbd)

Bathurst burr (Xanthium spinosum) was recently found in the Huon Valley.

This is a timely reminder for Tasmanians, particularly graziers, to be on the lookout for this potentially invasive w**d. It could be introduced by importing contaminated stock feed or via burrs tangled in wool and tails of imported stock.

Bathurst burr is a serious w**d on the Australian mainland and keeping it out of Tasmania, or eradicating any new infestations before they spread, is a high priority.

Most seed germinates after autumn rains, but some germination can occur following rain in winter and spring.

Bathurst burr seedlings are poisonous to stock – horses and pigs are particularly susceptible.

Please check your paddocks, yards, and chook pens for suspicious plants. If you think you may have found Bathurst burr, please report it immediately to Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3777 or [email protected]

More information on this declared w**d and w**d management options can be found here on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/w**ds/w**ds-index/declared-w**ds-index/bathurst-burr

NRM SouthNRM NorthCradle Coast NRMLandcare TasmaniaTasmanian Farmers & Graziers AssociationSprout TasmaniaLocal Government Association of TasmaniaFruit Growers Tasmania

📷Richard Richter via Atlas of living Australia

If you or your family and friends are travelling to Tasmania, it is important to remember you have a role to play in helping to protect the state from fruit flies!

Tasmania has a strong biosecurity system to help protect our environment, primary industries, and way of life from the negative impacts of pests, w**ds and diseases.

Spring and summer are the highest risk seasons for pests like fruit fly, and although Biosecurity Tasmania has strict controls in place to reduce the risk of these pests getting into Tasmania, everybody has a role to play to protect our State.

DO NOT BRING fruit and vegetables into Tasmania. If you do bring any by mistake DISPOSE of these items in the biosecurity bins provided at points of entry.

More information on fruit fly is at www.nre.tas.gov.au/fruitfly

Attention: Beekeepers 🐝🐝

Biosecurity Tasmania recognises that swarm season is upon us and supports the capturing of swarms. However, if you are within the Devonport 5km Bee Movement Restriction Area, and wish to capture swarms, you must first contact Biosecurity Tasmania on (03) 6165 3777 to obtain a free permit.

This process will allow our officers to record the location of the swarm and the intended destination. Traceability plays a key role in a successful response and will be vital if more small hive beetles are found.

In the case of established feral nests, this will also enable officers to inspect the remaining comb for any traces of small hive beetle.

For those not seeking to capture wild swarms, we still ask that you report any swarm or feral colony sightings to Biosecurity Tasmania as soon as possible on (03)6165 3777 or [email protected]

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers AssociationTasmanian Women in AgricultureSprout TasmaniaTasmanian Institute of AgricultureFruit Growers TasmaniaTasmanian Beekeepers AssociationSouthern Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationNatural Beekeeping TasmaniaNorthern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationPlant Health AustraliaLocal Government Association of TasmaniaNRM SouthNRM NorthAustralian Honey Bee Industry CouncilTasmania Parks and Wildlife ServiceHydro Tasmania

Biosecurity Tasmania Biosecurity Tasmania is a division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

Stay up to date with important biosecurity information and learn how you can help protect Tasmania from the negative impacts of exotic pests, diseases and w**ds.

View recent Tasmanian biosecurity advisories and subscribe to get updates delivered straight to your inbox here: https://biosecurityadvisory.nre.tas.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Have you seen this w**d?

Ragwort start out as rosettes but can grow up to 1.5m high with dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers at the end of small branchlets. The best time to eradicate w**ds like Ragwort is when they are at the seedling or rosette stages, so now is the time to act!

Ragwort is a declared w**d in Tasmania- if you see a plant you think could be Ragwort, report it to your local council or Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777.

If you are a land or homeowner, have a w**d plan ready to treat or remove newly germinated rosettes to prevent them from spreading. Ragwort recovers quickly from slashing, so removal or chemical control are desired.
To find out of you are in an eradication or containment zone, visithttps://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/Ragwort_WMP_2011.pdf

Remember, we all have a role to play in protecting Tasmania from unwanted w**ds- It’s our General Biosecurity Duty. For information on the identification and management of w**ds visit our website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/w**ds

Sprout Tasmania NRM South NRM North Cradle Coast NRM Landcare Tasmania Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

Biosecurity Tasmania thanks everyone within the Bee Movement Restriction Area for your continued support and assistance throughout the ongoing small hive beetle response.

Please continue to report any wild or unregistered beehives on (03) 6165 3777 or [email protected]

🐝 Wild and unregistered beehives pose a risk of harbouring SHB if they remain unchecked.

🐝Wild beehives can be found in enclosed cavities such as inside tree hollows, walls, chimneys, and compost bins.

🐝Please do not approach bees or beehives!

A reminder that it is illegal to own unregistered beehives in Tasmania. However, a permanent amnesty applies for anyone registering beehives – you will not be fined for registering your hives.

Registration is free, for more information or to register visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers AssociationTasmanian Women in AgricultureSprout TasmaniaTasmanian Institute of AgricultureFruit Growers TasmaniaTasmanian Beekeepers AssociationSouthern Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationNatural Beekeeping TasmaniaNorthern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationPlant Health AustraliaSprout TasmaniaLocal Government Association of TasmaniaNRM South NRM Northon of TasmaniaAustralian Honey Bee Industry CouncilTasmania Parks and Wildlife Servicesmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Biosecurity Tasmania Biosecurity Tasmania is a division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

Permit applications are now open for beekeepers wanting to move their hives into the 5km Bee Movement Restriction Area for the purpose of pollinating crops.

To apply for a permit, please contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777

For more information, please visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/SHB

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Tasmanian Women in Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania Australian Honey Bee Industry Council NRM South NRM North Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Biosecurity Tasmania Biosecurity Tasmania is a division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

An update from NSW DPI on their ongoing emergency response for varroa mite.

Note - Tasmania remains free from varroa mite and it has not been detected in Tasmania.

More information can be found at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/bees/varroa-mite

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Tasmanian Women in Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania Australian Honey Bee Industry Council NRM South NRM North Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

From June 2022, industry and government have worked closely in partnership to attempt to eradicate Varroa mite.

The National Management Group (made up of all states, the Commonwealth and 16 industry partners) have now decided that eradication is no longer technically feasible and have unanimously decided to move from an eradication program to a management approach.

Both bodies reiterated the efforts and sacrifices beekeepers across NSW have made in protecting our honey and pollination-reliant industries over the past 15 months. NSW DPI would also like to express its gratitude for the support and efforts of bee keepers throughout this response.

Transition to management of the Varroa mite will be led by NSW DPI in consultation with key stakeholders.

For the latest information and regular updates on the Varroa mite Emergency Response, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa.

Registration is compulsory for all beekeepers in Tasmania – it is also one of the most powerful tools we have to identify, manage and limit the spread of pests and diseases like small hive beetle. There is no cost to register, and registration will remain free until at least 31 March 2025.

For more information or to register visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Tasmanian Women in Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania Australian Honey Bee Industry Council NRM South NRM North Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Small Hive Beetle restrictions easing while inspections continue.

With no more small hive beetles found since the resumption of hive inspections in the current Bee Movement Restriction Area (BMRA), Biosecurity Tasmania is implementing a staged process to ease restrictions.

Effective from Tuesday 19 September the BMRA will be reduced from a radius of 10km to 5km from the original detection site. An interactive map of the new 5km BMRA can be seen here: https://tinyurl.com/beerestriction

If you are in the 5km BMRA and need to open beehives for animal welfare reasons, or you are a pollinator wanting to move hives into the BMRA for crop pollination, please call Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3777.

If you have hives in the 5km –10km area, restrictions no longer apply, meaning beehives can be opened and moved. Please contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3777 to arrange for protective tape and traps to be removed. For more info visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/SHB or call 6165 3777.


Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Tasmanian Women in Agriculture Sprout Tasmania Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Fruit Growers Tasmania Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Natural Beekeeping Tasmania Northern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Plant Health Australia Local Government Association of Tasmania Australian Honey Bee Industry Council NRM South NRM North Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania

Biosecurity Tasmania Biosecurity Tasmania is a division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

Spring is here, and so is Paterson’s curse!

The best time to eradicate w**ds like Paterson’s curse is when they are at the seedling or rosette stages, so now is the time to act!

Paterson’s curse is a declared w**d in Tasmania- if you see a plant you think could be Paterson’s curse, report it to your local council or Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777.

If you are a land or homeowner, have a w**d plan ready to treat or remove newly germinated rosettes to prevent them from spreading. If they've already flowered, don't worry- just remove the flowerheads and seed heads to stop more seeds from developing. Be cautious not to spread the seeds while doing so!

Remember, we all have a role to play in protecting Tasmania from unwanted w**ds- It’s our General Biosecurity Duty. For information on the identification and management of w**ds visit our website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/w**ds

Sprout Tasmania NRM South NRM North Cradle Coast NRM Landcare Tasmania Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

Biosecurity Tasmania thanks everyone within the Bee Movement Restriction Area for your continued support and assistance throughout the ongoing small hive beetle response.

Please continue to report any wild or unregistered beehives on (03) 6165 3777 or [email protected]

🐝 Wild and unregistered beehives pose a risk of harbouring SHB if they remain unchecked.

🐝Wild beehives can be found in enclosed cavities such as inside tree hollows, walls, chimneys, and compost bins.

🐝Please do not approach bees or beehives!

A reminder that it is illegal to own unregistered beehives in Tasmania. However, a permanent amnesty applies for anyone registering beehives – you will not be fined for registering your hives.

Registration is free, for more information or to register visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/beekeeper-registration

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers AssociationTasmanian Women in AgricultureSprout TasmaniaTasmanian Institute of AgricultureFruit Growers TasmaniaTasmanian Beekeepers AssociationSouthern Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationNatural Beekeeping TasmaniaNorthern Branch Tasmanian Beekeepers AssociationPlant Health AustraliaLocal Government Association of TasmaniaAustralian Honey Bee Industry CouncilNRM SouthNRM NorthTasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Hydro Tasmania

Check your bait, mate! 🍤🎣

You can help protect our marine environment by only buying bait from your local fishing tackle supply store.

There are strict requirements involved with importing bait into Tasmania and it is actually prohibited in most instances. Illegally imported bait originating from other states or countries may contain pests and diseases that do not occur in Tasmania.

If you catch your own bait, try to source it from the same area where you fish. Moving fish including frames, offal and shells, between locations can spread diseases and marine pests.

Imported raw prawns sold at supermarkets may carry diseases, such as white spot disease, which could have devastating consequences on our local prawn populations if introduced into our marine environment. While the chances of white spot disease being introduced into Tasmanian waters are considered relatively low, it’s best to always practice responsible fishing and care for our precious marine environments, protecting them from introduced pests and diseases.

More information on bait restrictions in Tasmania can be found on the Fishing Tasmania website: https://fishing.tas.gov.au/recreational-fishing/rules/bait



Tasmania

Tasmania has new animal welfare regulations in place to ensure the ongoing welfare of cattle in the state.

The Animal Welfare (Cattle) Regulations 2023 are based on the nationally developed and endorsed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Cattle with two minor amendments for Tasmania.

The amendments relate to the handling and spaying of cattle. Spaying can only be performed by registered veterinary surgeons in Tasmania.

Extensive consultation was undertaken at both national and local levels. Advice was provided by Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, including representation from the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and RSPCA Tasmania.

To view the Regulations visit - www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/2023-03-08/sr-2023-006

Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association Sprout Tasmania Dairy Tas

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre supported a field trip to Mount Chappell Island last month as part of the Commonwealth funded Off-shore Island Pest Eradication Project, managed by Biosecurity Tasmania’s Invasive Species Branch.

A group of seven volunteers, under the supervision of Karen Ziegler, removed invasive w**ds including African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) and mirror bush (Coprosma repens) from the island.

Invasive w**ds can out compete native vegetation whilst also impacting the breeding of Cape Barron geese and native burrowing species such as the shearwater rookeries.

This is a great example of stakeholder collaboration to help achieve positive offshore island conservation outcomes.