Didymo guide for travellers

Didymo guide for travellers

What is Didymo?

Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) also known as 'rock snot' is a freshwater alga that's causing serious problems around the world.

What are the risk items?

Didymo can survive in damp moist conditions and is often inadvertently carried in sporting equipment and fabrics such as:

• fishing equipment: rods, reels, bags, rope, nets, knee guards, gators, felt soled shoes, waders
  
• recreational and watersport equipment: wetsuits, neoprene socks, waterskiing and wakeboarding equipment (including components) buoyancy vests, kayaks, canoes and other watercraft, paddles, spray decks, spray skirts, soft foam handles, hiking gear and swimwear.

What can you do before returning to Australia?

All travellers carrying such items need to thoroughly clean and completely dry all components, inside and out. It is also a good idea when you’re packing your bags to ensure all risk items can easily be accessed when required for inspection.

What to do when arriving in Australia?

It is important that you:

• declare all items on your Incoming Passenger Card
  
• present all items to an AQIS Officer for inspection.

What happens next?

The AQIS Officer will inspect all items to assess the level of risk each item presents. Once assessed, the AQIS Officer will advise you whether or not the item needs to be treated before it can enter Australia.  If it requires treatment, it will be treated in the nearest AQIS approved treatment facility, subject to availability; which may result in delays in getting items back. If the risk item can not be treated it will need to either be destroyed or re-exported.  All treatment, destruction or re-exportation costs are at the owner’s expense. 

Top Tip: Hire equipment while overseas to avoid treatment delays

Penalties for not declaring risk items?

It is important to remember that Australia has strict quarantine laws.  Failing to declare quarantine risk items on the Incoming Passenger Card could result in an on-the-spot fine of up to A$200.  For more serious breaches passengers could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to A$66 000 or 10 years in prison which may result in a criminal record.

For more information

More information can be found at www.aqis.gov.au/icon then search for 'fresh water' to view Australia's import conditions and treatments.