Fisheries Research Report No. 259, 2014 A likelihood analysis of the introduction of marine pests to Western Australian ports via commercial vessels S. Bridgwood and J. McDonald Fisheries Research Division Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories PO Box 20 NORTH BEACH, Western Australia 6920 1742/14 Correct citation: Bridgwood, S. and McDonald, J. A likelihood analysis of the introduction of marine pests to Western Australian ports via commercial vessels. Fisheries Research Report No. 259. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. 212pp. Enquiries: WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920 Tel: +61 8 9203 0111 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fish.wa.gov.au ABN: 55 689 794 771 A complete list of Fisheries Research Reports is available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au © Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. May 2014. ISSN: 1035 - 4549 ISBN: 978-1-921845-81-9 ii Fisheries Research Report [Western Australia] No. 259, 2014 Contents Executive summary .............................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Aims and objectives ................................................................................................ 3 2.0 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Inoculation likelihood ............................................................................................. 6 2.1.1 Sociopolitcal risk .......................................................................................... 8 2.2 Infection and establishment likelihood ................................................................... 10 3.0 Bioregional analysis ...................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 14 3.1.1 North Coast bioregion .................................................................................. 14 3.1.1.1 Inoculation likelihood and sociopolitical risk ............................... 14 3.1.1.2 Infection and establishment likelihood .......................................... 15 3.1.2 Gascoyne bioregion ...................................................................................... 16 3.1.2.1 Inoculation likelihood and sociopolitical risk ............................... 16 3.1.2.2 Infection and establishment likelihood .......................................... 17 3.1.3 West Coast bioregion ................................................................................... 18 3.1.3.1 Inoculation likelihood and sociopolitical risk ............................... 18 3.1.3.2 Infection and establishment likelihood .......................................... 18 3.1.4 South Coast bioregion .................................................................................. 20 3.1.4.1 Inoculation likelihood and sociopolitical risk ............................... 20 3.1.4.2 Infection and establishment likelihood .......................................... 20 4.0 Key Findings from the bioregional analysis .............................................................. 24 4.1 North Coast bioregion ............................................................................................ 24 4.2 Gascoyne Coast bioregion ...................................................................................... 24 4.3 West Coast bioregion .............................................................................................. 24 4.4 South Coast bioregion ............................................................................................ 24 5.0 Wyndham Port ............................................................................................................. 26 5.1 Wyndham Port description ..................................................................................... 28 5.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................. 28 5.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests ........................................... 29 5.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 29 5.2.1 Inoculation likelihood .................................................................................. 29 5.2.2 Sociopolitical risk ......................................................................................... 31 5.2.3 Infection and establishment likelihood ....................................................... 32 6.0 Broome Port .................................................................................................................. 37 6.1 Broome Port description ......................................................................................... 39 6.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................. 40 6.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests ........................................... 40 Fisheries Research Report [Western Australia] No. 259, 2014 iii 6.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 40 6.2.1 Inoculation likelihood ................................................................................. 40 6.2.2 Sociopolitical risk ......................................................................................... 42 6.2.3 Infection and establishment likelihood ........................................................ 43 7.0 Port Hedland Port ........................................................................................................ 44 7.1 Port Hedland Port description ................................................................................ 46 7.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................. 47 7.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests ........................................... 47 7.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 48 7.2.1 Inoculation likelihood .................................................................................. 48 7.2.2 Sociopolitical risk ......................................................................................... 51 7.2.3 Infection and establishment likelihood ....................................................... 52 8.0 Dampier Port ................................................................................................................ 57 8.1 Dampier Port description ........................................................................................ 59 8.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................. 59 8.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests ........................................... 60 8.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 60 8.2.1 Inoculation likelihood .................................................................................. 60 8.2.2 Sociopolitical risk ......................................................................................... 64 8.2.3 Infection and establishment likelihood ....................................................... 65 9.0 Useless Loop Port ......................................................................................................... 71 9.1 Useless Loop Port description ................................................................................ 73 9.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................. 73 9.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests ........................................... 74 9.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 74 9.2.1 Inoculation likelihood .................................................................................. 74 9.2.2 Sociopolitical risk ......................................................................................... 76 9.2.3 Infection and establishment likelihood ....................................................... 77 10.0 Geraldton Port ............................................................................................................. 82 10.1 Geraldton Port description ...................................................................................... 84 10.1.1 Environment ................................................................................................ 85 10.1.2 Current knowledge of introduced marine pests .......................................... 85 10.2 Results and discussion ............................................................................................ 86 10.2.1 Inoculation likelihood ................................................................................ 86 10.2.3 Sociopolitical risk ........................................................................................ 90 10.2.4 Infection and establishment likelihood ....................................................... 91 11.0 Fremantle Port 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