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Rules for Vessels returning from Torres Strait
Rules for passage through Torres Strait
The Torres Strait is highly vulnerable to incursions of exotic pests and diseases present in countries to Australia’s north. Domestic vessels could move these pests to the mainland if they do not observe the special quarantine laws.
This fact sheet sets out key points for domestic vessels that have been operating in, or have visited, the Torres Strait and are en route to mainland Australia. For residents of the Torres Strait, more detailed information is available, including quarantine rules and exemptions for traditional inter-island trade.
The threat
The Torres Strait provides a potential transit route to the mainland for many serious pests, weeds and diseases that are present in countries to Australia’s north.
There are hundreds of exotic pests of concern to Australia including rabies; a flesh-eating blowfly called screw-worm fly; diseases carried by mosquitoes; invasive weeds; and many kinds of fruit fly that we do not have in Australia. Many pests would be expensive or impossible to control if they reached our food and livestock production areas. Trade could stop with other countries. Exotic pests and disease also threaten our environment, wildlife and human health.
By carefully monitoring movement of goods in the Torres Strait and from the Torres Strait to the mainland, Quarantine is able to control the spread of many pests from island to island, and from islands to mainland.
The rules
If your vessel is over 7 metres and you have visited or been operating in the Torres Strait on a domestic voyage, you must report to Quarantine before you return to the mainland. You must report between 12 and 48 hours before reaching your mainland destination. Contact AQIS directly on VHF radio, or via local harbour authorities.
While in the Torres Strait, you cannot move prohibited items - including fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, animals and animal products – from the islands in the Torres Strait Protected Zone to the Thursday Island Group, or from any of the islands to the mainland. If you have prohibited foods on board, consume them before landfall or otherwise contact Quarantine before you reach land. Check with Quarantine for a full list of prohibited items.
Left: The map shows special quarantine zones in and around the Torres Strait. It is against Australia law to move prohibited items from PNG into the Torres Strait Protected Zone; from the Protected Zone into the Special Quarantine Zone; or from either zone onto mainland Australia. Prohibited items include most plant and animal products (exemptions for some traditional trade items – ask Quarantine).
Reporting to Quarantine
- When you contact Quarantine 12 to 48 hours before returning to the mainland, they’ll need to ask you some simple questions about your journey - including where you’ve been in the Torres Strait and what goods you’ve had on the vessel. These questions will help them decide whether your vessel needs to be inspected once you reach the mainland. Quarantine does not charge for vessel inspections. Most inspections take less than one hour.
- You can report to Quarantine by VHF radio or via the local harbour authorities at your intended port of destination. Quarantine has offices at major northern ports including Broome, Darwin, Gove, Weipa, Bamaga, Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville and Mackay.
Tips for easy passage
Following these few simple steps will help to reduce inspection time for vessels returning from the Torres Strait to the mainland.
- Don’t source meat or poultry from the Torres Strait. If you do, consume it before leaving the area.
- Keep receipts for any foodstuffs you’ve bought in the Torres Strait.
- Consume all fruit and vegetables you have on the vessel, regardless of its origin, before returning to the mainland.
- Don’t carry live animals or plants without a permit from Quarantine.
- Observe the notification laws – you must contact Quarantine 12 to 24 hours before you reach the mainland.
For more information
Email: NAQS
Post: GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
Visiting Torres Strait pamphlet
AQIS in far north Queensland:
Cairns: 07 4030 7800
Thursday Island: 07 4069 1185
Weipa: 07 4069 7380
Bamaga: 07 4069 3142