Australia’s fishing industry is valued at $2.8 billion and support jobs, regional communities and food security.
We think that that is something worth protecting and this new innovation that is aimed at protecting Australia’s Aquaculture and wild catch fisheries.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has launched a mobile application that will potentially strengthen Australia’s ability to manage and respond to aquatic animal disease incidents.
The mobile app is available on Android, Windows and iOS platforms and provides in-depth information on diseases included on Australia’s National List of Reportable Diseases of Aquatic Animals.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said the application allowed industry to be better informed on aquatic diseases of significance for Australia and provided a faster system to report incidents to the relevant authorities.
“Australia’s relative freedom from a range of pests and diseases constitutes one of our most valuable assets in the fishing and aquaculture industries,” Minister Ruston said in a statement. “We’re always working to strengthen the way we manage biosecurity risks.
Ruston encouraged commercial fishers, aquaculture workers, recreational fishers, biosecurity staff and scientists to download and get across the application.
“It is a great tool that will help further ensure serious diseases do not impact on the future prosperity of Australian fisheries and aquaculture.”