Tasmania’s fruit fly free status has been upheld, in a great result for the State’s fruit growers.
After a single male fruit fly was detected in East Launceston in February, Biosecurity Tasmania staff completed nine weeks of intensive surveillance, deploying additional traps in the community and inspecting fruit trees on surrounding properties.
No further fruit flies were found. This great result shows our biosecurity system is working as intended and provides re-assurance for those dependant on our vital primary industries sector.
The heightened surveillance was supported by the Securing Our Borders Budget initiative, which saw more officers employed and Biosecurity Tasmania inspect a total of more than 1.8 million pieces of individual high-risk fruit fly host produce over the peak season, as well as other imported freight and goods.
Although the February detection did not constitute an outbreak and will not impact on the State’s Pest Free Area status, it is an important reminder for all Tasmanians to remain vigilant against biosecurity threats.
I thank all biosecurity staff for their great efforts, particularly as they are also heavily involved in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about fruit fly go to www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly
More Media Releases from Guy Barnett
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water