Biosecurity and Visitor Requirements

Rodents are excellent at sneaking onto vessels and can hide their presence for a long time. Although not every vessel will have rodents on board, having baits and traps aboard will help lower the chances of rodents making it back to Flinders Island.

Yes! Norway rats (R. norvegicus) can swim over 1500m, Ship rats (R. rattus) can swim over 700m, and mice can tread water for up to 3 days!
As anchorages are generally within 100m of shore, this is an easy swim for either species.

Yes. Several previously eradicated islands have seen rodent re-introductions via visiting vessels, even if they were anchored off. Incursion response or re-eradication actions were required to remove these rodents – not all of which were successful.

Yes.
By bringing your vessel (and the gear on it) within range of the Island, there is a risk of accidentally introducing a pest to the Island. Everyone who visits Flinders Island has a Shared Responsibility to help us protect it.

– If your vessel has a single deck, a minimum of one bait station and one trap per 10m of registered vessel length.
– If your vessel has multiple decks, then each deck needs one bait station and one trap per 10m of registered vessel length.
– If your vessel has multiple hulls, then each hull needs at least one bait station and one trap per 10m of registered vessel length, per deck, in each hull.

For example –
A 20 foot (~6 metre) runabout/tinny will require one bait station and one trap.
A 45 foot (~14 metre) cruising monohull yacht will require a minimum of two bait stations and two traps.
A 42 foot (~12 metre) cruising catamaran will require a minimum on two bait stations and two traps in each hull.
A 42 foot (~12 metre) converted fishing vessel with two internal decks will require a minimum of two bait stations and two traps on each internal deck.

Stations and traps can be placed anywhere dry. Ideal locations on larger vessels include the galley and saloon. More out of the way locations are also acceptable as long as they are not fully sealed and are able to be accessed by rodents. These areas may include food storage lockers, ropes lockers, unused cabins, etc.

Double sided tape or self-adhesive Velcro can be used to prevent your devices from moving whilst underway.

Brodifacoum and Difenacoum are modern rodenticides which are commercially available. All prescribed bait types are safe when used in accordance with product labels and instructions.

Bait stations are lockable and tamper proof to prevent children and pets accessing and interacting with baits.

Always use poisons in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

No. The bait types have been prescribed as they are effective, single feed baits. This means that rodents only need to eat a small amount of bait once to receive a lethal dose. Many other bait types require multiple feeds over a prolonged duration and may be less effective.

Proven rodent snap trap lures include (but are not limited to): Peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and chocolate.

We understand that snap traps (especially traditional wooden snap traps) may be triggered by the motion of the vessel in a seaway. Traps should be re-set whenever possible, especially during hours of darkness.

Always wear gloves when handling rodents.

You may wish to dispose of the carcass at sea. If so, ensure you take detailed photos of the body before disposal. Take photos from as many angles as possible and include something for scale. You will need to inform management or biosecurity officers upon arrival, and provide the photos for our records.

Other potential threats to Flinders Island include weeds, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and plant & soil pathogens.

Ensuring all vessel and personal equipment is clean and free of attached soil and seeds is incredibly important – especially walking boots and poles, rain-jackets, and outer-wear (remember to check any Velcro and pockets!).

It is also important to ensure that there are no animal stowaways on board or in your personal luggage. It may seem unlikely, but skinks, geckos, beetles, spiders, and rodents can all hitch a ride.

If you find any invertebrates before your arrival – self treat with a commercial knock-down spray.

Report any potential biosecurity threats to upon arrival.

Island managers and visitors are key players when it comes to protecting the Island from unwanted pests and diseases. If you find any suspected pest sign during your stay, remember to notify the caretakers on duty immediately.

• The Woolford’s have agreed to place a conservation agreement over most of the island, in addition to a 1995 Heritage Agreement that covers about 250 hectares.
• It is an island that comes with natural biosecurity barriers that dramatically reduces the cost to maintain a feral-free environment and protection against reinvasion.
• The future of conservation is working with private land holders.
• The Woolford family has a long history of working with Government to improve conservation outcomes for Flinders Island.

• Refer to the biosecurity checklists when considering visiting the island.
• Ensuring that all luggage has been checked and packed in accordance with the Flinders Island Biosecurity Plan.
• If you are coming by plane, boat or barge be sure to check the correct procedure for packing to avoid bringing unwanted rodents and pests.
• Contact the Woolford’s if you are planning a trip before you leave the mainland.
• Do not bring firewood to the island.
• Check all surfboard covers, swags and tents, BBQ bags and other high risk items that could harbour stowaways before leaving the mainland.

• If you are planning on visiting or working (fishing) around the island, it is imperative that you contact the Woolford’s before you depart the mainland and read the signage for operational updates.
• This is to ensure your safety while operations are in place, and to ensure appropriate biosecurity measures are in place.
• The island will require to be closed to all members of the public for a minimum of 6 weeks while baiting and ground operations are in place. Local signage will be updated to keep the public informed of when it is considered appropriate to re-open the island.

• Increase in traffic at the boat ramp from January 2025 onwards.
• Additional employment opportunities and an increase in supporting local businesses in the community from January 2025 onwards.
• Biosecurity requirements to visit the island are in place from January 2025.
• Local community who wishes to visit the Island will be required to meet all biosecurity requirements. Details will be available on the Flinders Island Eco Escape website from January 2025.
• Inshore fishing, island visitation via boat or plane prohibited for minimum 6 weeks while operations occurring.

• The eradication operation is occurring during the non-breeding season when migratory
• birds are transient between the island and the mainland.
• There is little evidence for reptiles being susceptible to brodifacoum (the bait being used).
• Invertebrates themselves are unaffected by baiting toxins as a result of their physiology and digestion.
• Brodifacoum (the bait being used) is largely insoluble in water there will be no uptake of the toxin by plants and no impact on plant growth.
• The use of the baits for this project requires a Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Permit. This permit regulates the use and sets out very clear requirements including monitoring for any target and off target impacts.

• Brodifacoum breaks down quickly as it binds with soil and is eventually broken down by soil organisms.
• The bait pellets break down with wind, water and movement. The baiting operation will occur during the wetter winter period, meaning that pellets will probably only last a few weeks on land at most after rains and storms.
• A deflector bucket will be used when baiting the coastal boundary. All pellets are directed towards land (this is where the rats and mice live), with only very few entering the sea.
• Wave action on saturated pellets will cause them to break up quite quickly and what little toxin is in a pellet will be diluted in seawater.
• Evidence suggests that short-term application of rodent bait for eradication purposes does not result in long-term persistence of this toxicant in the marine environment or animals that may ingest the bait.

• The project will utilise existing infrastructure in the community and on the island.
• Employment opportunities and increase in support of local business is expected throughout the project.
• Signage and biosecurity facilities will be implemented both on the mainland in Elliston and on the Island.

If you are interested in the project and would like to know more, please get into contact with Liz McTaggart, Project Manager: Liz.McTaggart2@sa.gov.au.

• Skilled team to enhance the island’s ecosystem.
• Dedicated funding from partners.
• Effective, ethically approved, and successful pest eradication methods that have worked for over 600 islands.
• Local community and visitors to the island are key players when it comes to protecting Flinders Island from unwanted pests and diseases.
• All island visitors must meet biosecurity requirements.
• Contact the Woolford’s if you are planning a trip and request more information regarding the appropriate biosecurity requirements.