Invasive Species Council

ISC annual awards, 2004

In 2004, the Invasive Species Council in Australia presented the 2004 Froggatt Award:

2004 Froggatt Award
The ISC Froggatt Award is presented annually in recognition of the early warning, preventative action, awareness raising or management of an invasive species in Australia.

Winner of the 2004 ISC Froggatt Award is the Seastar Team, and the community of Inverloch in southeast Victoria, for their inspired efforts to eradicate a Northern Pacific Seastar outbreak that had spread from Port Phillip Bay.

The Seastar Team have done an exceptional job in bringing together the Victorian Government and local community groups to eradicate a new population of the Northern Pacific Seastar at Inverloch.

The Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterius amurensis) is a horrific marine pest - a starfish from Japan which has invaded Australian waters. These beasts are marine vacuum cleaners, stripping life from the bottoms of our bays and reefs. They are already out of control in Port Phillip Bay in Victoria.

In late 2003, individual Pacific Seastars began appearing in intertidal areas at Inverloch. The community was extensively consulted and decided to work towards eradicating the infestation.

A coalition of diverse community groups came together to carry out the work, including:
* volunteer divers, from across Victoria
* fishers and boaters, transporting divers
* walkers scanning the beaches, including Strezlecki Bushwalking Club and the Victorian Bushwalking Club
* local Red Cross and SES volunteers, and Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club
* local volunteers, including commercial fishers, Residents and Rate Payers Association, the Bunurong Environment Centre and the business community
* Victorian Government agencies including Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria and Department of Primary Industries

It is too early to determine whether the population has been eradicated. However, data collected during the eradication events indicate that the population may have been successfully reduced to a level where reproduction may be ineffective. Follow up dives are scheduled for early 2005.

In the early stages, aggregations of the individuals were found in large numbers over suitable habitat and food sources. However, as individuals were removed from these locations, only scattered individuals are now being found, with no further aggregations. Thus, spawning is likely to fail, or have a very low success rate, as the success rate of spawning individuals depends on their proximity to each other.

Perhaps most importantly, the determination of this team in returning again and again to eradicate this population has raised the profile of the general problem of invasive marine species.

Their efforts have also highlighted in the Australian media that "prevention is better than cure", by demonstrating the level of resources and time required for eradication (rarely possible) or control.

The team's work has also set a new national benchmark in responding to such incidents, and helped launch major initiatives dealing with risks from small vessels and shipÕs ballast water. The volunteer effort has also drawn the attention of the Korean Broadcasting Service.

Congratulations to the people of Inverloch, and the many others who were involved, for winning the 2004 Froggatt!

about the award
The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) was introduced into Australia at Edmonton in North Queensland in 1935 to control the Grey Backed Cane Beetle and the Frenchie Beetle which were devastating northern Australia's sugar cane industry. The Toad was introduced with no research or testing to see if it was specific to or suitable for control of these beetles.

As is so often the case, release of the Cane Toad was against the advice of some naturalists and scientists. These included a former New South Wales Government Entomologist named Walter W. Froggatt. Although their protests resulted in a brief moratorium on the release of toads, releases resumed in 1936.

The Toad had minimal impact on the beetles and has since become a widespread pest in north east Australia having significant impacts on indigenous fauna and ecosystems. It continues to invade across the top end, recently entering Kakadu National Park. To this day, research conducted, particularly into biological control, always meets the public question, "Will it become another Cane Toad?".

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Austin Award
The ISC Austin Award is given occasionally, in recognition for the most senseless introduction of, misguided promotion about, or foot-in-mouth comment regarding an invasive organism in Australia.

This Award will only be given occasionally, when there is a particularly deserving candidate.

In 2004, the Austin Award was not awarded.

about the award
This award is presented in recognition of Thomas Austin, the person responsible for the first successful introduction of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) into Australia in 1859 at Winchelsea, Victoria.