Emergency response to an incursion of Northern Pacific Seastar at Tidal River - applied science on the run

On 16 May 2012, the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) was first recorded in Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park, adjacent to Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. Marine pests have been identified as... [ view full abstract ]

On 16 May 2012, the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) was first recorded in Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park, adjacent to Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. Marine pests have been identified as one of the biggest threats to natural values in Victoria’s MPAs, while Asterias is considered one of the ten most damaging marine pests in Australia, based on overall environmental and economic impacts.

The Asterias incursion was treated as a marine pest emergency triggering the establishment of an Incident Management Team (IMT) and initiation of a targeted science program designed to inform the response and control effort. The science program involved a large number of partnerships with various government departments and agencies, and Deakin and Melbourne Universities, as well as expert consultants. The collective results of several separate science projects were evaluated and integrated into management options by a Technical Advisory Group, which was established when the IMT was scaled down as the response transitioned to a longer term management issue for Parks Victoria.

The science program included a range of approaches and methods to help determine the extent of the infestation, target monitoring and improve detection rates, assess the effectiveness of management interventions and to help identify the possible source of the infestation. The program included 1) water quality monitoring and sidescan sonar mapping to determine potential Asterias habitat, 2) seastar surveys using a range of methods targeting various stages of the life cycle to assess the extent of the infestation and effectiveness of the removal program, 3) assessment of seastar detection rates and modelling of numbers remaining in Tidal River, and 4) plankton tow surveys, hydrodynamic modelling and genetic analysis of seastars to help determine the possible source population.

Ultimately the science program formed the basis of a comprehensive evidence based approach to management of the Asterias outbreak in Tidal River. The practical applied science which was used in the response achieved several “firsts” for Victoria in terms of marine pest management.