Import of live sturgeon for aquaculture

On 21 June 2022, the department released a Notice of Intention to conduct a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (BIRA) under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the Biosecurity Regulation 2016, in relation to the importation of live sturgeon for aquaculture. This commenced a 30-month timeframe to complete the BIRA.

On 11 September 2023, the 60-day consultation period for the draft BIRA report closed. Over 5 people, organisations and industry groups provided feedback on the draft BIRA report.

Public submissions received for the BIRA are available on the sturgeon BIRA Have Your Say page.

BIRA: Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis
SAG: Scientific Advisory Group
IGB: Inspector-General of Biosecurity

The above timeline is based on the BIRA process as outlined in the Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis Guidelines 2016. Learn more about the BIRA Guidelines.

Steps to complete this risk analysis

When we do a risk analysis, we:

• review the science on pests and diseases of concern, release an Issues Paper, and seek stakeholder feedback on hazards
• assess and analyse biosecurity risks
• develop proposed risk management measures
• consult stakeholders on the draft report and then review comments
• publish a final report
• develop import conditions
• publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).

About this risk analysis

At the request of industry stakeholders, we are assessing the biosecurity risks associated with the import of live sturgeon (Acipenser and Huso species) for aquaculture.

Australia does not currently permit the import of any live sturgeon. As risk management measures have not been established for live sturgeon, we are conducting this assessment as a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

Learn more about how and why the department conducts a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis and our international obligations.

Next steps

Now that the public consultation has closed, we will:

• consider all feedback
• engage with the Scientific Advisory Group
• develop a provisional BIRA report.

About the draft BIRA report

We propose that live sturgeon be permitted import into Australia, provided they comply with appropriate biosecurity measures.

The draft BIRA report details:

• disease agents of biosecurity concern for live sturgeon
• risk assessments for the identified disease agents of biosecurity concern
• proposed biosecurity measures.

The disease agents identified that need biosecurity measures are:

• Aeromonas salmonicida salmonicida (typical strain)
• Argulus alosae, Argulus coregoni, Argulus flavescens, Argulus foliaceus and Argulus stizostethii
• cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (koi herpesvirus)
• Ergasilus sieboldi
• frog virus 3
• infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus
• Polypodium hydriforme
• spring viraemia of carp virus
• sturgeon alloherpesviruses
• sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses
• viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus
• Yersinia ruckeri (Hagerman strain only).

The proposed biosecurity measures to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection for these disease agents include:

• sourcing from disease-free stocks
• sourcing from a premises under the supervision of the competent authority
• sourcing from a premises that cultures sturgeon only
• pre-export quarantine
• parasite treatment
• batch testing for disease agents
• egg disinfection
• post-arrival quarantine.

About the issues paper

We released an issues paper that provided background information on the proposal to import live sturgeon to Australia, an overview of the risk analysis process, and a preliminary hazard identification.

Thank you for sharing your views, ideas and research on the issues paper. We received five submissions covering a wide range of perspectives. Submissions that were not marked as confidential can be viewed on Have Your Say - Importing live sturgeon for aquaculture.

Contact us

For more information about this risk analysis email abra@aff.gov.au

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