Page Content
Quarantine information for yachts arriving in Australia
- What are the risks?
- What happens when a yacht arrives in Australia?
- What can I do to help?
- Goods that can and cannot be brought into Australia
- Proclaimed first ports of entry
- More information
Australia is free of many of the pests and diseases found in other parts of the world - pests and diseases that could devastate our environment, wildlife or agricultural industries if they became established here. AQIS is responsible for keeping exotic pests and disease out of Australia.
What are the risks?
Australia is free of most of the world’s major animal and plant diseases. We don’t have rabies, foot and mouth disease, swine fever, screw-worm fly or exotic strains of Newcastle disease - all of which could be introduced by infected animals (which may not have any obvious symptoms of illness) or in food bought overseas or from trading with overseas vessels.
Furthermore, yachts pose a considerable risk of introducing exotic marine pests through biofouling. Biofouling refers to marine organisms that attach themselves to objects immersed in salt water, including the hulls and ancillary gear of yachts. Ancillary gear includes anchors cables, fenders, cordage, tenders and anything else in regular contact with the sea.
What happens when your yacht arrives in Australia?
Your vessel will be inspected by an AQIS Quarantine officer when you arrive at an Australian proclaimed first port of entry.
You must not call in, go ashore or land any goods (including animals) before you’ve received clearance. All animals on board must be confined and you’ll also be required to moor in mid-water. If your animal comes ashore or into contact with any Australian animals, including birds, it will be destroyed and you could face serious charges.
What can I do to help?
Before you leave your last port for Australia:
- Keep all ancillary gear and internal seawater systems clean of marine pests and growths; and
- Clean your vessel’s hull within one month before arrival; or
- Apply antifouling paint within one year before arrival; or
- Book your vessel in to be slipped and cleaned within one week of arrival.
When cleaning your vessel, make sure that special attention is paid to the following high risk areas:
- hull, keel and rudder;
- propellers and shafts;
- anchor wells (including anchor, chain and rope);
- water intakes and outlets;
- tenders and outboard motors; and
- sea strainers and internal water systems.
Note: Careening is not permitted in Australian waters.
If you clean or apply antifouling paint to your vessel, as in (2) or (3) above, keep a record of where, when and by whom the work was done (including paint details). Also retain any receipts from marinas, haul out facilities or chandlers to assist AQIS to verify when the work was done.
If you do the work yourself, keep records of what was done, where and when in your vessel’s logbook or journal.
Upon arrival in Australia:
- Go directly to a proclaimed first port of entry once you have entered Australian waters;
- Don’t throw any garbage or foodstuffs overboard while you’re in Australian waters or at a mooring point. All garbage must be securely stowed until it can be placed into a designated quarantine disposal point;
- Keep all food and animals secure until your vessel has been inspected by AQIS (a charge will apply for this inspection);
- Ensure that animals are kept securely on board at all times;
- Don’t trade foodstuffs with other overseas vessels; and
- Keep your vessel free of insects.
Goods that can and cannot be brought into Australia
Note: Almost every kind of food available elsewhere in the world can be found in Australia, either locally produced or imported under strict conditions.
In addition to the Australian Quarantine laws, there are some restrictions on the movement of agricultural products such as fruit and vegetables, live plants and honey between states and within regions in each State. The laws controlling these restrictions are administered by the relevant State Agricultural Departments.
Proclaimed first ports of entry
Proclaimed first ports of entry are Australian ports where vessels must arrive after travelling through international waters. These are all Quarantine ports of entry proclaimed in the Quarantine Proclamation 1998 under the Quarantine Act 1908.
When you arrive at a proclaimed first port of entry you must arrange for quarantine clearance of your vessel.
More information
Contact the Australian diplomatic post or Austrade office in your country.