SA biosecurity experts are working with Agriculture Vic after an outbreak of Qld fruit fly was declared near the SA-NSW-Vic border in the past fortnight.
PIRSA Biosecurity SA is leading the response, along with colleagues from Agriculture Vic to put movement controls on produce in place, with a suspension area near Lindsay Point, Vic, which forms part of the SA Riverland Pest Free Area.
An eradication program aimed at eliminating any fruit flies from the outbreak area and nearby surrounds is expected to be in place as soon as possible.
A statement from PIRSA said residents and businesses within the outbreak area will be receiving information from Biosecurity SA and their relevant state authority about the outbreak and associated quarantine, detailing what part they can play in preventing its spread.
RELATED READING
PIRSA Biosecurity SA is also liaising closely with the Riverland horticulture industry on the outbreak response, particularly in regards to the movement of produce and quarantine restrictions.
A dedicated phone number - 1800 255 556 - has been established for industry queries.
As part of the response an organic bait spotting program will be undertaken while fallen fruit within the affected 200 metre outbreak zone are.
Q-fly does not exist in SA and can only be brought into the state from infested fruit originating from the eastern states.
The PIRSA statement acknowledged it was unusual to work so closely in a Vic outbreak but said part of the suspension area was in the Riverland PFA.
"This has no impact on the fruit fly free status for the rest of the Riverland PFA or for the rest of the state and we are liaising with the broader horticultural industry, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Agriculture Vic and the NSW Department of Primary Industries on the outbreak and our eradication campaign," the statement read.
Residents and businesses inside the quarantine area are encouraged to help by practising a few simple measures, including:
- Do not give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants unless cooked or preserved;
- Do not leave fruit or fruiting vegetables lying on the ground;
- Do not compost any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including those purchased from a shop;
- Place all unwanted fruit and vegetables in your green bin for normal collection;
- Report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Without any further wild flies or larvae detected, the quarantine is expected to finish on December 22.
Visit: pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly
- This story first appeared on the Stock Journal.
