Vessels returning from Torres Strait

The Torres Strait is highly vulnerable to incursions of exotic pests and diseases present in countries to Australia’s north. The Torres Strait provides a potential transit route to the mainland for many of these serious pests and disease. AQIS takes the risk seriously and quarantine protocol helps to manage the significant risk at our borders. Responsibility for AQIS’s protection of the Torres Strait lies with AQIS Seaports and the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS).

There are hundreds of exotic pests of concern to Australia including rabies; screw-worm fly; diseases carried by mosquitoes; invasive weeds; and many kinds of fruit fly that are currently not in Australia. Many pests would be expensive or impossible to control if they reached our food and livestock production areas. This could potentially impact Australia’s trade with other countries and threaten our environment, wildlife and human health.