Keeping your boat & gear clean will SAVE MONEY ON FUEL INCREASE BOAT PERFORMANCE STOP THE SPREAD OF MARINE PESTS
1 Northern Pacific seastar
Keep your boat and fishing gear clean to help How can I help? stop the spread of marine pests Check and clean your boat regularly using the simple steps on pages 4 to 7, to make sure you are NSW’s marine life is under threat from introduced not spreading pests. Also, clean your fishing gear. marine plants and animals. Marine pests can also have severe impacts on recreational boating and You may be carrying marine pests on your boat. fishing and marine industries. You could unknowingly be spreading them to your The pest seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia has already favourite destinations. Cleaning your boat and become established in Sydney and on the Central gear will help stop the spread of marine pests. It and South Coasts, and action needs to be taken will also reduce your fuel costs and increase the to avoid other pest species arriving and becoming life of your boat. established in our estuaries. A recent study identified key pests which have a high risk of being transferred to Sydney’s waterways by boating traffic from southern NSW and other states, such as the Asian bag mussel, Northern Pacific seastar, European/ green shore crab and Japanese kelp.
Marine pests can affect your boat • They damage the paint and hull where they attach Caulerpa taxifolia Japanese kelp Mussels on propeller • They increase drag and therefore fuel costs • They increase maintenance costs Learn to identify important existing or potential • They clog pipes, motors or propellers causing marine pests – see pages 8 to 39. If you see existing engine overheating pests in new locations or new pests in NSW, please report them immediately. Marine pests can affect your fishing • They increase pressure on fish populations by NSW DPI’s 24hr recorded hotline competing for food, damaging their habitats, or (02) 4916 3877 preying on them email: [email protected] • A pest outbreak can result in fishing closures to stop the pests spreading further Note the location and take photos or collect a • The Northern Pacific seastar can even steal your sample and freeze in a plastic bag to enable NSW bait! DPI to confirm your sighting.
For more information, please visit: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/pests-diseases or phone 1300 550 474
2 Meadow of Caulerpa taxifolia 3 Follow these simple steps to make sure pests aren’t hitchhiking on your boat!
TRAILER BOATS, CANOES, KAYAKS, JETSKIS 3. Drain all the water from your boat and gear, but don’t let it drain back into the sea. 4 key steps to keep your boat and gear clean and dry. Target the areas shown in the diagram. 4. Dry your boat and gear completely, including ropes and anchor. Tiny eggs & plant spores 1. Remove any weeds, animals or sediment from can survive in a damp area for months. your boat, trailer and gear and put it in the bin – NoT back in the water.
2. After each trip rinse your boat, trailer and gear with fresh water, in your yard or at a carwash. If you can’t do this because of water restrictions go to the next step.
4 5 Follow these simple steps to make sure pests aren’t hitchhiking on your boat!
MOORED BOATS 3. Check your boat for fouling every month (any plants or animals attached to your hull, It’s crucial to make sure your boat is clean propellers, anchor, cables, fenders, cordage, before you move it. Follow these 5 key steps and tenders etc). target the areas shown in the diagram. 4. Treat internal seawater systems regularly 1. Slip and clean your boat regularly, at least – flush with fresh water or an approved every year and anytime there is a build up of treatment. fouling. 5. Dispose of sewage and bilge water at an 2. Select an antifouling paint suited to your approved pump out facility. Waste could boat’s activity, and apply it correctly following contain marine pests, their eggs or plant the manufacturer’s advice. Renew it when spores. persistent fouling occurs.
6 7 MARINE PEST FOuND IN NSW SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Caulerpa filiformis KEY FEATuRES: CAuLERPA Flattened strap-like Caulerpa taxifolia fronds (not fern-like) HABITAT: Exposed and sheltered Frond height 3-25cm rocky reef and sandy areas, to 6m depth Flattened fronds, bright Common between Port green colour. Known Stephens and Jervis Bay to turn pale & white Photo: David Harasti during winter in colder waters Caulerpa scalpelliformis Leaflets on fronds KEY FEATuRES: attach directly opposite Fern-like fronds with leaflets either side of each other, curve fronds not directly upwards opposite each other Leaflets constricted at HABITAT: base Exposed rocky reef to
Photo: NSW DPI 36m depth
Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of Australia KNOWN LOCATIONS: See NSW DPI website for Caulerpa flexilis Found in several NSW up-to-date information www.dpi.nsw.gov.au KEY FEATuRES: estuaries and coastal lakes Fern-like branchlets with including: HABITAT: secondary leaflets Lake Macquarie • Sand or rock in sheltered HABITAT: Brisbane Water and moderately exposed Exposed rocky reef to Hawkesbury River areas 40m depth More common in Pittwater • Has not been found in deeper water Port Jackson depths greater than 12m in NSW Botany Bay Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of Australia Port Hacking St Georges Basin IMPACTS: Caulerpa cactoides Lake Conjola • May compete with KEY FEATuRES: native seagrasses Narrawallee Inlet Short rounded club-like • May adversely affect leaflets Burrill Lake shellfish living in sediments Durras Lake HABITAT: • Entangles in boat Sheltered and less Batemans Bay anchors, fishing nets and exposed sand, mud Wallagoot Lake trawling gear and rock surfaces up to 38m depth Also found in SA
Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of Australia
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 8 9 MARINE PEST FOuND IN NSW SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Thalamita sima EuROPEAN/GREEN SHORE CRAB KEY FEATuRES: Has swimming paddles Carcinus maenas 5 spines either side of eyes Green/yellow colour 5 spines on either side HABITAT: of eyes Sheltered reef and sand up to 34m depth Shell width up to 9cm
Green or brown upper Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life surface Surf crab/Sand crab No swimming paddles Ovalipes australiensis KEY FEATuRES: Two red oval patches towards the rear Light grey/sand colour Photo: © CSIRO HABITAT: Sandy beaches up to KNOWN LOCATIONS: See NSW DPI website for 34m depth Found in several estuaries up-to-date information Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life and coastal lakes along www.dpi.nsw.gov.au NSW southern coastline HABITAT: Red swimmer crab including: Nectocarcinus • Shallow intertidal areas of integrifrons Clyde River bays and estuaries KEY FEATuRES: Wagonga Inlet • Typically amongst Nangudga Lake Purple-red/brown rocks with oysters or in colour Bermagui River mangroves 4 spines either side of Wapengo Lake eyes Nelson Lagoon IMPACTS: Slightly hairy, claws Merimbula Lake • Competes with native black at tips, no Pambula Lake species swimming paddles Twofold Bay Photo: © Leon Altoff • Feeds on native shellfish HABITAT: Wonboyn Lake and other crabs Sheltered seagrass and • Potential impacts on Also found in SA, Vic, Tas seaweed up to 20m aquaculture and fisheries depth
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 10 11 MARINE PEST FOuND IN NSW SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Feather-duster worm/ Banded fan worm/ EuROPEAN FAN WORM Southern fan worm Sabella spallanzanii Sabellastarte australiensis KEY FEATuRES: Feeding tentacles not Fan colour varies: spiralled, up to 15cm white/orange/brown diameter Banded white and Fan often has brightly purple/brown banded colours Photo: Roger Steene HABITAT: Feeding tentacles Exposed rocky reefs up to (radiole) form spiralled 30m depth fan up to 20cm long
Flexible tube up to 40cm Anemone horseshoe worm Phoronis australis KEY FEATuRES: Velvet black colour, tube Photo: © CSIRO length up to 20cm
HABITAT: KNOWN LOCATIONS: Silty/sandy sheltered • Twofold Bay, NSW areas, up to 30m depth
• WA, SA, Vic, Tas Photo: David Harasti
HABITAT: • Sheltered waters up to 30m depth Sabellastarte sp • Soft sediments and hard surfaces KEY FEAuRES: such as wharf/marina piles, Feeding tentacles not channel markers, submerged spiralled wrecks and pontoons Banded white/purple/ orange/brown IMPACTS: Shorter tube up to 5cm • Fouls man-made structures and Usually solitary not in clumps soft sediments • Competes for food and space HABITAT: with native species and can inhibit Photo: Mark Norman, Museum Victoria Exposed rocky reef and their settlement artificial structures in areas of good current flow, up • Clogs dredges and nets increasing to 200m depth sorting times for commercial fishers
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 12 13 MARINE PEST FOuND IN NSW SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Mud whelk NEW ZEALAND SCREW SHELL Velacumantus australis KEY FEATuRES: Maoricolpus roseus Broader, rough spiralled shell up to 2-5cm long Dull grey colour Smooth spiralled cone HABITAT: (no beads) up to 9cm Soft sediments in sheltered waters, long estuaries, mangroves, tidal flats, seagrasses Yellow/red-brown in colour, often marbled or streaked
Photo: Patty Jansen, Australian Shells
Native screw shell Gazameda gunnii KEY FEATuRES: Shorter shell up to 5-6cm long More mottled appearance, lighter Photo: © CSIRO colouration – white/light brown Has fine beads forming ridges around the shell KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Twofold Bay and HABITAT: continental shelf off Inner continental shelf at depths Merimbula and Bermagui to 140m • Vic and Tas
HABITAT: Photo: Holly Barlow, Australian Museum • Lying on, or partially buried in sand, mud or Hercules club whelk/Mud whelk gravel Pyrazus ebeninus Photo: © CSIRO • Intertidal to subtidal KEY FEATuRES: • From 1-130m depth Dark brown shell with flaring lip Up to 11cm long IMPACTS: HABITAT: • Densely blankets sea floor Mudflats and mangrove swamps with live and dead shells in estuaries • Can affect growth of scallops and displace native shellfish
Photo: Patty Jansen, Australian Shells
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 14 15 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Irregular seastar NORTHERN PACIFIC SEASTAR Smilasterias irregularis KEY FEATuRES: Asterias amurensis Five arms with radius up to 6.5cm Colour ranges pink/red/ Five pointed arms with brown/grey radius up to 23cm Pointed but no upturned tips Upturned tips, pointed HABITAT: spines (two rows on Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life Sheltered reef up to underside) 30m depth Southern NSW coastline Juveniles are yellow with purple markings (adults more yellow) Granular/Zig zag seastar Uniophora granifera KEY FEATuRES: Five blunt tipped arms Radius up to 12cm orange with purple spines Photo: © CSIRO HABITAT: Sheltered reef, silt, seagrass up to 30m depth Entire NSW coastline Photo: David Harasti
Many-pored seastar Fromia polypora KEY FEATuRES: Five arms with radius up to 11cm Bright orange/yellow with black pores
Diagram: © CSIRO HABITAT: Exposed reef up to 160m KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Intertidal zone up to 25m • Found in Vic and Tas depth, occasionally to Photo: www.rling.com 200m depth • Not known to occur in NSW IMPACTS: HABITAT: • Voracious predator, consumes many • All surfaces such as bivalves and other small mud, sand and rock in invertebrates sheltered areas • Impacts aquaculture and fisheries REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 16 17 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Cray weed/Strap weed JAPANESE SEAWEED Phyllospora comosa KEY FEATuRES: Undaria pinnatifida No midrib or base Long strand-like fronds with sawtooth edge, air sacks for floats Up to 3m tall Can grow up to 1-3m tall HABITAT: Exposed rocky reef up to Green-brown fronds 20m depth
Leaves stop short Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of base of Australia
Frilly base Common kelp Ecklonia radiata Holdfast KEY FEATuRES: No midrib or base often has spines, brown fronds, up to 2m tall Photo: © CSIRO Appearance varies with depth (longer, smoother fronds in deep water) KNOWN LOCATIONS: HABITAT: • Tas and Vic Moderately exposed rocky • Not known to occur in reefs up to 44m depth NSW Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of Australia HABITAT: • Sheltered temperate Bull kelp waters Durvillaea potatorum • Intertidal to subtidal zone, KEY FEATuRES: usually found between No midrib or base 10-20m depth Large bulky fronds Up to 8m tall IMPACTS: HABITAT: • Can be highly invasive Exposed rocky reef up to and grow rapidly into 30m depth dense beds • overgrows and excludes native algal species Photo: John Huisman, Marine Plants of Australia Photo: © CSIRO
Midrib up to 3cm wide
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 18 19 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis ASIAN DATE MuSSEL/BAG MuSSEL planulatus Musculista senhousia KEY FEATuRES: Large fan shaped shell up to 12cm Smooth fragile shell Blue/black colour up to 3cm long, olive Usually found in clumps green/brown colour HABITAT: Sheltered and moderately Shell has zigzag Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life exposed reefs, pylons and markings and pontoons iridescent radiating Up to 15m depth bands
Often in clumps of Brachidontes rostratus many individuals KEY FEATuRES: Long flat shell up to 4cm Purple colour, regular rounded ribs Usually found in dense
Photo: courtesy Northern Territory Government clumps HABITAT: Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life Exposed rock platforms KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Found in Vic, SA, Tas and Hairy mussel WA Trichomya hirsuta • Not known to occur in KEY FEATuRES: NSW Numerous hairs on lower half of shell HABITAT: Up to 6cm • Soft sediment or hard HABITAT: surfaces Exposed reef up to 15m • occurs just below the low depth tide level in aggregated Common intertidally and clumps Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life subtidally Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life Little black horse mussel IMPACTS: Xenostrobus pulex • Fouls man-made KEY FEATuRES: structures Small shiny inflated shell up to • Forms dense mats 2.5cm in length competing with natives Black colour for food and space Forms dense clumps HABITAT: Exposed rocky shores Mid intertidal Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 20 21 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
ASIAN GREEN MuSSEL Perna viridis
Bright green juvenile shell and dark green to brown adult shell
Commonly 8-10cm in length, can reach up to 16cm in length
Smooth pearly shell
Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life
Photo: courtesy Northern Territory Government Blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis planulatus KEY FEATuRES: HABITAT: Blue/black colour • Variety of hard surfaces, Large fan shaped shell up to 12cm particularly floating, including vessels, HABITAT: Sheltered and moderately exposed reefs, pylons wharves, buoys, intake and pontoons, typically on floating surfaces pipes, aquaculture Can occur up to 15m depth equipment • Low tide to 42m depth, lower estuarine habitats to marine • Tropical to warm waters but tolerates wide ranges of salinities and Photo: Wayne Sheldon temperatures
KNOWN LOCATIONS: IMPACTS: • Cairns, QLD • Fast growing, out competes native species • Not known to occur in NSW • Forms dense clumps, fouls man-made structures • Accumulates toxins and is linked to shellfish poisoning in humans
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 22 23 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
BLACK-STRIPED MuSSEL Mytilopsis sallei
Small, fragile shell up to 2.5cm long with one side overlapping the other
Varied shell colour from black/brown-light grey/white Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life
Some show light and Brachidontes rostratus dark zig zag pattern KEY FEATuRES: Forms dense clusters, Long flat shell up to 4cm rarely seen as Purple colour individuals HABITAT:
Photo: courtesy of Northern Territory Government Forms dense mats on exposed rock platforms
KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Not known to currently exist in Australia • Eradicated from Darwin Harbour in 1999
HABITAT: • Prefers shallow sheltered inshore estuarine habitats • Tolerates wide range of Photo: courtesy of Northern Territory Government salinities and temperatures • Can attach to any hard Photo: Graham Edgar, Australian Marine Life surfaces, e.g. hulls, pylons Little black horse mussel IMPACTS: Xenostrobus pulex • Rapid growth forming KEY FEATuRES: dense clusters that exclude Small shiny inflated shell up to 2.5cm in length most other species Black colour • Fouls man-made structures Forms dense clumps such as wharves, marinas, HABITAT: seawater systems, Exposed rocky shores, mid intertidal aquaculture equipment
Photo: © CSIRO
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 24 25 MARINE PEST FOuND IN AuSTRALIA SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Blue swimmer crab ASIAN PADDLE CRAB Portunus pelagicus KEY FEATuRES: Charybdis japonica No spines either side of eyes Dark brown/bluish/ Varied colour from red/ purple colour purple/orange to pale Shell width up to green and off white 21cm HABITAT: 6 spines either side Sheltered sand and of eyes seagrass habitat Shell width up to Intertidal and 12cm subtidal up to 60-70m depth Swimming paddles on last set of legs
Mud crab Scylla serrata Photo: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (CR. 009843) KEY FEATuRES: 9 spines either side of head KNOWN LOCATIONS: Dark brown to • Single live male found in SA mottled green • Not known to occur in NSW Large robust claws Shell up to 25cm HABITAT: wide Above illustrations: Pat Tully, NSW DPI • Estuarine and marine habitats HABITAT: • Subtidal to 10-15m depth Soft muddy bottoms in sheltered areas IMPACTS: such as mangroves • Is host/carrier of the White Spot Syndrome Virus which can infect native and farmed prawns, crabs and lobsters
REPORT NEW LOCATIONS 26 27 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
ASIAN SHORE CRAB Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Spots on claws Photo: Tim Glasby, NSW DPI Photo: Michael Marmach, Museum Victoria 3 spines either side of Swift-footed crab/Purple Smooth shore crab the eyes rock crab Cyclograpsus audouinii Shell up to 4cm wide, Leptograpsus variegatus KEY FEATuRES: varied colour green/ KEY FEATuRES: No spines either side of the purple to orange/ Dark-olive green to dark eyes brown purple Smooth rounded shell up to Shell up to 8cm wide 4cm wide Banded pattern on legs Purple claws with white tips Varied colours from red- brown/purple and yellow Photo: Amy J Benson, U.S. Geological Survey Three spines on either side of eyes to purple, dark grey or brownish grey HABITAT: Exposed rocky shores, HABITAT: KNOWN LOCATIONS: intertidal Under rocks on sheltered and moderately exposed • Not recorded in Australia shores HABITAT: • Estuarine and marine habitats • Intertidal shallow hard-bottom areas including under rocks, shells, debris and artificial structures
IMPACTS: • Broad diet, competes with and Photo: Tim Glasby, NSW DPI Photo: © Leon Altoff preys upon native species Sowrie Spotted smooth shore crab Plagusia glabra Paragrapsus laevis KEY FEATuRES: KEY FEATuRES: Smooth shell green-brown Shell width up to 4cm colour 2 spines either side of eyes 4 distinct spines on either First set of legs felted with side of eyes, spines on legs hairs HABITAT: HABITAT: Intertidal, exposed rock Intertidal, sheltered coastal platforms or rock pools bays and estuaries, prefers hiding under rocks, debris and in mangroves
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 28 29 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
CHINESE MITTEN CRAB Eriocheir sinensis
Large claws with white tips and light brown bristles that resemble “mittens”
Photo: Michael Marmach, Museum Victoria 4 spines either side of the eyes Red bait crab Plagusia chabrus Smooth shell up to 8cm wide KEY FEATuRES: Hairy body and legs with spines on legs Red/brown/orange colour Shell up to 7cm wide Deeply notched between the eyes Photo: Lee Mecum, California Dept of Fish and Game HABITAT: Prefers subtidal reefs up to 8m depth
KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Not recorded in Australia
HABITAT: • Tolerates a wide range of temperatures and modified habitats • Prefers estuarine and coastal areas including lakes, wetlands and river banks Photo: Tim Glasby, NSW DPI
IMPACTS: Swift-footed crab/Purple rock crab Photo: Stephan Gollasch GoConsult • Forms dense colonies Leptograpsus variegatus that cause erosion by KEY FEATuRES: intense burrowing Dark olive-green to dark purple • opportunistic diet, out Shell up to 8cm wide competes native species Purple claws with white tips • Can carry lung fluke that Three spines on either side of eyes can infect humans HABITAT: Exposed rocky shores, intertidal
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 30 31 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
SLIPPER LIMPET Crepidula fornicata
Smooth oval shaped shell up to 5cm long
Irregular growth lines
Internal shelf extending half shell’s length
White, yellow or pink with red/brown streaks
Photos: Des Beechey www.seashellsofnsw.org.au Commonly found in stacks Northern slipper limpet/ Southern slipper limpet Spiny slipper limpet Crepidula immersa Photo: Bill Frank www.jaxshells.org Crepidula aculeata KEY FEATuRES: KEY FEATuRES: Flat/thin shell up to 5cm Shell commonly 1-3cm long with internal shelf (up to 4cm), has spines White to fawn/brown and bumps, white and colour KNOWN LOCATIONS: brown colour HABITAT: • Not recorded in Australia HABITAT: Subtidal up to 350m depth Intertidal to subtidal, HABITAT: exposed rocky shores • Intertidal areas of estuaries and coastal bays • Attached to other shells or hard surfaces in muddy/sandy/gravel/ Photo: Sarah Longrigg rocky areas Slipper limpets showing IMPACTS: stacking behaviour • Can compete with natives for food and space Photo: © Leon Altoff • Can impact commercial Limpet oyster cultivation Notoacmea mayi KEY FEATuRES: Smooth shell, no internal shelf HABITAT: Exposed reef, high intertidal zone
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 32 33 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
Cartrut shell RAPA WHELK/vEINED WHELK Dicathais orbita KEY FEATuRES: Rapana venosa Shell sculptured with grooves White/grey/brown/ Large heavy shell up green colour to 18cm long with Shell height up to 7-8cm large opening HABITAT: Reef up to 10m depth Outside shell colour Photo: © Leon Altoff varies grey to red/ brown
Black vein-like pattern Helmet shell over whole shell Semicassis pyrum Distinctive deep KEY FEATuRES: orange interior Smooth shell Cream with brown blotches Shell height up to 7cm HABITAT: Exposed sand up to 480m depth
Photo: US Geological Survey Archives, United States
Photo: Des Beechey www.seashellsofnsw.org.au KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Not recorded in Australia
HABITAT: • Tolerates wide range of temperatures and salinities, polluted and oxygen-deficient waters • Prefers sandy estuarine and marine habitats, can also colonise hard substrates
IMPACTS: • Can prey heavily on native shellfish and aquaculture species • Can affect bottom dwelling organisms
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 34 35 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
BRuSH-CLAWED SHORE CRAB Hemigrapsus takanoi
Light brown to yellow fur patches at base Photo: Tim Glasby, NSW DPI Photo: Michael Marmach, Museum Victoria of pincers on male’s Swift-footed crab/Purple Smooth shore crab claws rock crab Cyclograpsus audouinii Leptograpsus variegatus Small dark spots on KEY FEATuRES: No spines either side of the claws KEY FEATuRES: Dark-olive green to dark eyes 3 spines on either side purple Smooth rounded shell up to of eyes Shell up to 8cm wide 4cm wide Purple claws with white tips Varied colours from red- Light and dark banded Three spines on either side brown/purple and yellow legs of eyes to purple, dark grey or brownish grey Photo: Hans Hillewaert Most commonly HABITAT: orangey-brown in Exposed rocky shores, HABITAT: Under rocks on sheltered colour, can be green intertidal and moderately exposed or maroon shores
KNOWN LOCATIONS: • Not recorded in Australia
HABITAT: • Rocky intertidal habitats, but is also found in soft sediments Photo: Tim Glasby, NSW DPI Photo: © Leon Altoff IMPACTS: Photo: Arjan Gittenberger Sowrie Spotted smooth shore crab • Broad diet, competes Plagusia glabra Paragrapsus laevis with and preys upon KEY FEATuRES: KEY FEATuRES: native species Smooth shell green-brown Shell width up to 4cm colour 2 spines either side of eyes 4 distinct spines on either First set of legs felted with side of eyes, spines on legs hairs HABITAT: HABITAT: Intertidal, exposed rock Intertidal, sheltered coastal platforms or rock pools bays and estuaries, prefers hiding under rocks, debris and in mangroves
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 36 37 MARINE PEST FOuND OvERSEAS SIMILAR NATIvE SPECIES
ASIAN CLAM Potamocorbula amurensis
Thin smooth shell; older shells appear wrinkled on shell surface
White, tan or yellow in colour Photo: John & Maria Grist
2-3cm in length Narrow wedge shell/Shining wedge shell Paphies species Shell of unequal size – one side is larger than KEY FEATuRES: White/cream shell with brown covering the other Interior of shell is white Photo: Janet Thompson, US Geological Survey Up to 2.5cm long HABITAT: KNOWN LOCATIONS: Sandy intertidal • Not recorded in Australia
HABITAT: • Mostly subtidal but also intertidal • Can be found in marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats • occurs in all sediment types including mud, peat, clay, sand but most commonly found on mixed mud/sand bottoms
IMPACTS: • Competes with native species for
food and space Photo: John & Maria Grist • Reduces planktonic food sources • Can form dense layers Tellina semitorta KEY FEATuRES: Shell usually white, but sometimes pink Up to 1.6cm long HABITAT: Sandy intertidal
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS 38 39 Northern Pacific seastar
Marine pests can: • Damage your boat • Increase your fuel and maintenance costs • Impact on your fishing • Destroy native habitats • Threaten human health
Help prevent the spread of marine pests! Check and clean your boat and fishing gear before you move and Report marine pests
24hr recorded hotline (02) 4916 3877 Email: [email protected]
For more information: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/pests-diseases or phone 1300 550 474
This collaborative effort is supported by the Australian Government, state and Northern Territory governments, marine industries, researchers and conservation groups.
Photos on pages 1 -7 courtesy of BIA VIC, CSIRO, DAFF, Franz Grasser (VRFish), Michigan Sea Grant Archives, NSW DPI, Sandringham Yacht Club, VIC DSE, Yachting Victoria.