With winter approaching and the high-risk season for fruit fly ending, Tasmania’s fruit fly free status remains secure.
Tasmania’s fruit fly free status ensures businesses have ongoing access to lucrative export markets and supports our record fruit exports. Berry production increased by 45 per cent in the last year and the total farm gate value of fruit has increased to $406.7 million.
Since May 2019, Biosecurity Tasmania’s Securing our Borders initiative has significantly strengthened Tasmania’s biosecurity system, helping protect our environment, economy and primary industries from significant impacts of pests and diseases.
During the high-risk season between October 2022 and March 2023, Biosecurity Tasmania staff inspected over 2.8 million pieces of imported fresh produce and over the last year has maintained and inspected more than 1,100 fruit fly traps across 550 sites around the state.
This network of traps is designed to enable early detection of fruit fly should it enter the state and is essential to maintain grower access to premium export markets. The traps are checked each week during the high-risk season and fortnightly during low-risk months.
Good biosecurity is a shared responsibility with industry, government and the community all playing a vital role in protecting our state from pests and diseases.
Every Tasmanian is encouraged to remain vigilant during the winter months and report anything unusual to Biosecurity Tasmania on +61 03 6165 3777.
For more information:
https://nre.tas.gov.au/fruitfly