The Australian Priority Marine Pest List (APMPL) identifies 10 of Australia’s significant marine pests. This list includes 3 established and 7 exotic species.
The APMPL lists priority pests. See all marine pests that pose a risk to Australia.
To decide on the priority pests, experts identified species that were:
- nationally significant
- able to be identified in the marine environment
- able to be eradicated
We will use the APMPL to raise awareness and support surveillance, preparedness and response management for these species.
Established
Priority pests already established in some parts of Australia:
Exotic
Priority pests not known to be established in Australia:
- Asian green mussel
- Black striped false mussel
- Brown mussel
- Charru mussel*
- Chinese mitten crab
- Harris’ mud crab
- New Zealand green-lipped mussel
* The charru mussel was added to the Australian Priority Marine Pest List in late 2020 after MPSC agreed that, with new information available, it met the criteria for inclusion.
Read the detail
Want to know more about how marine pests were assessed for inclusion on the APMPL? Read Australian Priority Marine Pests List: Process and Outcomes.
Download
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, 2019
- Australian Priority Marine Pest List: Process and outcomes (PDF 2.6 MB)
- Australian Priority Marine Pest List: Process and outcomes (DOCX 651 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
Report it
See something unusual? Report it. Even if you’re not sure.
If you see something you think is a pest:
- note the exact location (screenshot your map app or enable photo geotagging on your phone)
- take a photo (use something for size reference, like a coin or note)
- contact your state or territory authority.