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A Tasmanian marine biologist is calling for tighter restrictions on ballast water within and between states, to help stop the spread of sea pests.
University of Tasmania, Marine Biologist, Neville Barrett says DNA tests have confirmed another Japanese sea pest grateloupia turuturu, is invading Tasmanian waters.
"Tests have shown that it is certainly positively identified from the Bicheno region but our ongoing survey work indicates that the plants are certainly round the east coast of Tasmania from Bicheno certainly down to the Tasman Peninsula," he said.
Scientists believe it was probably introduced through ballast water from international ships, before restrictions on international ships were introduced.
Mr Barrett says once the pests are in Tasmanian waters, they are easily spread.
"There are still major problems with translocation of material within states and even between states, that certainly probably do need to be tightened up," he said.
University of Tasmania, Marine Biologist, Neville Barrett says DNA tests have confirmed another Japanese sea pest grateloupia turuturu, is invading Tasmanian waters.
"Tests have shown that it is certainly positively identified from the Bicheno region but our ongoing survey work indicates that the plants are certainly round the east coast of Tasmania from Bicheno certainly down to the Tasman Peninsula," he said.
Scientists believe it was probably introduced through ballast water from international ships, before restrictions on international ships were introduced.
Mr Barrett says once the pests are in Tasmanian waters, they are easily spread.
"There are still major problems with translocation of material within states and even between states, that certainly probably do need to be tightened up," he said.
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