Tasmania has signed up to be part of a national coordinated response to outbreaks of Queensland Fruit Fly.
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An incursion of Queensland Fruit Fly in 2018 threatened to close markets for fruit growers and their exports and triggered a large scale response by government departments DPIPWE and Biosecurity Tasmania.
However, since then, Tasmania has been able to maintain its fruit fly free status, despite the detection of single flies or of larvae at different times.
This year there have been two instances of fruit flies found in produce.
However, the fight against fruit fly has taken another step forward in Tasmania, with the state signing up to a national strategy.
In other news:
The strategy was launched on November 12 at a meeting of the National Fruit Fly Council.
Chairman of the National Fruit Fly Council and general manager of Biosecurity Tasmania Lloyd Klumpp said the strategy provided a framework for governments, industry and research funders.
"It is a blueprint for national cooperation as we seek to both manage our existing pest fruit fly species, Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly, and prevent exotic species like Oriental fruit fly establishing in Australia," Dr Klumpp said.
The NFFC is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 2020-25 National Fruit Fly Strategy and will be developing annual implementation plans to identify and monitor key activities under the strategy.
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"While it is the council which will oversee the implementation of the strategy, our real strength lies in the contribution that every individual and every organisation makes to combating fruit fly," Dr Klumpp said.
"Effective management of fruit flies relies on cooperation at all levels of government, and between industry bodies, research institutions, regional groups, growers, and community and home gardeners."