Departmental media releases

Departmental media releases

• Shifting pests means new strategies for Queensland grain growers

  Queensland scientists have busted a myth about a pest that affects grain crops on Australia’s east coast.

  13-Dec-2019

• Young Queensland plant science superstar a BHP Awards finalist

  A Darling Downs student is one of 26 in the running to win a national science and engineering competition.

  09-Dec-2019

• New moon brings second fishing closure

  Coral reef fin fish will be off limits again from Sunday, 24 November 2019 when the second of two annual closures commences to protect these fishing during spawning.

  18-Nov-2019

• Toowoomba stock standstill exercise

  While there are stringent controls in place to stop foot and mouth disease (FMD) and other exotic diseases from entering Australia, Biosecurity Queensland is still making sure key sites are prepared for a disease outbreak.
  

  15-Nov-2019

• More Asian honey bees suspected at Townsville Port

  Biosecurity Queensland is calling on Townsville residents - particularly those living close to the Townsville port - to check their properties for bees following new evidence of Asian honey bee.

  08-Nov-2019

• East coast waters closed for barramundi fishing

  Barramundi will be off limits throughout Queensland’s east coast from 1 November 2019 to 31 January 2020.
  

  31-Oct-2019

• Spanner crab closed season coming

  Spanner crabs will be off limits to recreational and commercial fishers when Queensland’s annual closed season starts on 1 November 2019.

  28-Oct-2019

• Annual closure looms for coral reef fin fish

  Coral reef fin fish will be off limits from Friday, 25 October 2019, the first of two annual closures to protect these fish during spawning season.

  28-Oct-2019

• Gulf waters closed for barramundi fishing

  Barramundi will be off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria from immediately after midnight at the beginning of Monday 7 October 2019 until immediately before midnight at the end of 1 February 2020
  

  04-Oct-2019

• How much meat is in that mud crab?

  Queensland scientists are working with the seafood industry on world-first research that will help reveal the meat fullness of live mud crabs.
  

  19-Aug-2019

• Rough weather forces removal of Sunshine Coast shark protection equipment

  Shark control protection equipment is being removed from beaches along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast due to forecast rough weather.

  01-Jul-2019

• Free yard checks for FNQ residents in fight against electric ant menace

  Far North Queensland residents are urged to register for a free yard check as Biosecurity Queensland works to eradicate electric ants from the region.

  26-Apr-2019

• Understanding the challenges of Panama disease on farms

  Biosecurity Queensland and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) want to hear how Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4) has affected banana growers and their farms.

  26-Apr-2019

• Help locate acoustic stations

  Help is being sought to locate equipment vital to a Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) research project at Cressbrook Dam.

  19-Mar-2019

• Record numbers of exotic fruit flies in Torres Strait prompt biosecurity reminder

  With the numbers of exotic fruit flies being detected in Torres Strait nearing record levels, Biosecurity Queensland is urging visitors and locals not to move fruit and vegetables around the region.

  04-Mar-2019

• Councils signed up to tackle rainforest threat

  Mareeba Shire Council has joined four other Far North Queensland councils in a Biosecurity Queensland project to help tackle an invasive plant that poses a real threat to the area’s spectacular rainforest.

  04-Mar-2019

• Shark control equipment removed ahead of expected cyclonic conditions

  Shark control protection equipment has been removed from Central Queensland beaches due to forecast rough weather from TC Oma.

  20-Feb-2019

• Shark protection equipment removed from Surfers Paradise and Main Beach

  Shark control protection equipment has been removed from two Gold Coast beaches due to forecast rough weather.

  14-Feb-2019

• Rough weather forces removal of Sunshine Coast shark protection equipment

  Shark control protection equipment is being removed from beaches along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast due to forecast rough weather.

  13-Feb-2019

• Students to put the spotlight on invasive pests

  A national competition for school students of all ages will spotlight invasive pests and their effects on Australia’s agriculture industries.

  31-Jan-2019

• Get ready for barramundi season

  Queensland anglers are gearing up for barramundi season which re-opens at midday on Friday 1 February.

  29-Jan-2019

• Visitors urged to follow banana farm rules over the holidays

  Friends and family visiting banana farms over the holiday season are being reminded to follow the farm rules to prevent the spread of Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4).

  21-Dec-2018

• Comply with legislation before using insecticides to control mealy bugs

  Queensland graziers are being urged to comply with grazing withholding periods for any insecticides they may be applying within their enterprises.

  10-Dec-2018

• Super citrus surge on the Tablelands

  Citrus is fast becoming one of the most significant crops grown in the Tablelands region with a value of more than $55 million.

  10-Dec-2018

• Have your say on future of Moreton Bay shellfish collecting

  The Queensland Government is seeking public feedback as it considers closing Moreton Bay to shellfish collecting.

  04-Dec-2018

• Celebrating 100 years of research at South Johnstone

  Plant diseases and their cures, biological control, plant breeding, new varieties and new industries – South Johnstone has seen it all over the last century.
  

  04-Dec-2018

• Buying, selling and moving livestock – NLIS workshop for local producers

  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is running a series of workshops in Central Queensland to assist beef producers make effective use of the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) website and livestock identification technology.

  27-Nov-2018

• Bioreactor project finishes second installation in Burdekin

  The Burdekin’s second ‘bed-style’ bioreactor that captures agricultural run-off has recently been installed on a cane farm at Airville, south of Townsville.

  22-Nov-2018

• Queenslanders: look out for invasive ‘hitchhiker’ stink bug

  Queensland transport businesses, producers and the general public are asked to look out for a highly invasive, foul-smelling pest insect that likes to hide and ride in freight vehicles, cargo containers and furniture and appliance packaging materials.

  15-Nov-2018

• Prohibited reptiles land Greenbank man a $1500 fine

  A Greenbank man has been fined $1500 in the Ipswich Magistrates Court for illegally keeping three exotic non-native reptiles

  14-Nov-2018

• Second annual closure looms for coral reef fin fish

  Coral reef fin fish will be off limits from Monday, 5 November 2018, the second of two annual closures to protect these fish during spawning season.
  

  30-Oct-2018

• Barramundi closed season: east coast Queensland

  The annual barramundi closed season along Queensland’s east coast starts from midday on 1 November 2018, effective through to midday on 1 February 2019.
  

  25-Oct-2018

• Spanner crab off limits

  Queensland’s annual spanner crab closed season for recreational and commercial fishers commences on 1 November 2018.

  24-Oct-2018

• Have your say on cattle pregnancy testing and ovarian scanning

  The Queensland Government is seeking feedback about cattle pregnancy testing and ovarian scanning for commercial purposes and scientific research.

  19-Oct-2018

• Appeal for information about illegal take of protected lungfish
  Fisheries officers investigating the unlawful take of protected lungfish on the Brisbane River at Gregors Creek are seeking assistance from the public.

  18-Oct-2018

• Out of Africa, possible cure for local weed problem
  There could be a breakthrough in the quest to find a biological control for the aggressive Navua sedge weed affecting pastures throughout Far North Queensland after a Queensland Government-led study to Eastern Africa.

  17-Oct-2018

• Warning to Sunshine Coast beachgoers as weather affects shark control equipment

  Sunshine Coast beachgoers are advised to take extra caution after some shark control equipment dislodged in bad weather.
  

  17-Oct-2018

• Weather affects Gold Coast shark control equipment

  Gold Coast beachgoers are advised to take extra caution after some shark control equipment dislodged in bad weather.

  16-Oct-2018

• Tagged fish vital for Cressbrook Dam research project

  Anglers fishing in Toowoomba’s Cressbrook Dam are being urged not to take 60 fish tagged as part of a research project to improve fishing in dams.

  16-Oct-2018

• Changes to spanner crab closures

  Queensland’s annual closed season for spanner crab will be longer and start earlier under changes announced by Fisheries Queensland.

  28-Sep-2018

• Gulf waters closed for barramundi fishing

  Barramundi will be off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria from midday 7 October 2018 until midday 1 February 2019.

  28-Sep-2018

• New moon brings fishing closures

  Coral reef fin fish will be off limits from Saturday, 6 October 2018 as the first of two annual closures to protect these fish during spawning season commences.

  27-Sep-2018

• Fraser Island waters set to reopen to fishers

  Fraser Island will re-open to fin fishing from midday this Sunday 30 September, with the end of the island's annual fishing closure.

  25-Sep-2018

• Tropical rock lobster closed season

  Tropical rock lobster will be off limits to fishers in Queensland’s northern rock lobster waters from the start of October.

  24-Sep-2018

• Media Response - Cid Harbour update

  Another large Tiger shark was caught on a drumline in Cid Harbour today as well as a smaller black tip shark.

  24-Sep-2018

• Remember to be a mate these school holidays and check your bait

  If you are heading off on a relaxing holiday and intend to do a spot of fishing over the next few weeks then there are a few things you can do to help protect our pristine waterways from exotic diseases.

  18-Sep-2018

• New agreement makes it easier for TR4 affected farms

  Banana growers farming with Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama TR4) and who sell fruit to New South Wales are benefitting from a new interstate fruit certification agreement.

  13-Sep-2018

• Pilfering pro crabber pinched

  A Cleveland Magistrate has fined a commercial fisher more than $5,000 for interfering with another licensed crabber’s pots in southern Moreton Bay.

  13-Sep-2018

• Fish attractors to reely help anglers

  Stories of the ‘one that got away’ might become a thing of the past for Toowoomba anglers thanks to an Australian first program to install fish attractors in Cressbrook Dam.

  11-Sep-2018

• Fisher fined for $1500 for protected waters catch

  Taking 106 sea cucumber from protected waters has seen a recreational fisher fined $1500 in the Caboolture Magistrates Court.
  

  07-Sep-2018