Biosecurity toolkits

Contingency plans and rapid response

Contingency plan for Tephritid fruit flies (Word). This plan specifically focuses on the 8 species of Tephritid fruit fly identified by 8 OTs in the horizon scanning exercise, but is applicable to all Tephritid fruit fly species.
Contingency plan for mosquitoes (Word). This plan specifically focuses on the 8 species of mosquito identified by 11 OTs in the horizon scanning exercise, but is applicable to all mosquito species.
Fire ant monitoring protocol (PDF)
Fire ant rapid response (PDF)
Giant African snail rapid response (PDF)
Giant African snail identification (PDF)
Invasive plant monitoring guide (PDF)
Monitoring protocol for orbweb spiders in the Falklands (PDF)

Field guides and identification

Early detection of potentially invasive non-native invertebrates in South Georgia (PDF), and:

Field Guide to invasive alien pests of Pitcairn Islands (PDF)

Field Guide to invasive alien plant pests in the South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories:

Field Guide to invasive alien plant pests in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories:

Guide to taking digital photos of specimens for identification (PDF)

Biosecurity legislation

Model biosecurity legislation has been produced, together with a summary, explanatory notes and outline subsidiary legislation. This is in a form which can be applied to any OT (or other jurisdiction); the Legal Checklist is a tool to analyse gaps in existing legislation with references to the relevant model text to facilitate use of the model as a resource. The Guidance on drafting biosecurity legislation draws on the experience of St Helena, and outlines the commitments and work expected from an OT receiving project help in drafting biosecurity legislation.

Guidance on drafting biosecurity legislation (PDF)

Two versions of the model text are available: the full one, and a simplified one, suitable for smaller OTs.

Full model text:

Simplified model text:

Training module on the development of biosecurity legislation and international framework (PDF)

Biosecurity Training

Biosecurity training framework (PDF) for new staff, showing available on-line training courses and where they fit into the framework. Go to the online training website (external link).

Border controls

To assist territories working to set up or improve their biosecurity facilities, view specifications for a biosecurity facility and list of specialist equipment (PDF), with costings and links to possible suppliers. In December 2020 the NNSS secured £45k from the UK government to equip a new biosecurity facility in Tristan da Cunha. View the list of items bought (Word), as an example of what can be bought for this sum.

The following are import health standard templates for a range of commodities, together with three inspection protocols, for modification and adaptation to fit any territory.

Editable Inspection Guides (PowerPoint) for biosecurity inspectors, customs officials and agricultural officers, showing where to look, what to look for, and what to do in the event of an interception for:

Passengers’ luggage
Fresh produce for human consumption
Live plants
Shipping containers
Vehicles & machinery
Sand & aggregate

Marine biosecurity toolkit

The marine biosecurity toolkit consists of a package of 7 documents produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Council and Marine Management Organisation under the CSSF project. They are designed to assist the OTs to address the issue of marine invasive non-native species, and draw on the available knowledge and experiences from around the world.

Overview of the toolkit (PDF)

A. Hull fouling tool (PDF) A simple and practical method for ranking hull fouling on a scale of 0 to 5, with illustrations, together with an example datasheet.

B. Ballast water guidance (PDF) Explanation of the Ballast Water Convention and what it means for the OTs, together with an annotated example of a Ballast Water Record Book and guidance on how it should be completed.

The toolkit also includes a ballast water risk assessment tool (Excel) in the form of an Excel spreadsheet. This tool is designed to help determine the level of risk the ballast water of different vessels may pose to the territories and whether the ballast water more or less likely to contain invasive species. This risk assessment should be used with the Ballast Water Monitoring Guidance (Document B) in the OT biosecurity toolkit.

C. Sampling guidance (PDF) This document describes sampling that can be conducted whilst existing monitoring activities are carried out. It is in the form of rapid assessments and opportunistic sightings, in (i) ports and marinas, (ii) rocky shore intertidal zone, and (iii) roving dive surveys. An example datasheet is provided.

D. One-page identification guides for 25 of the priority marine species identified during the horizon scanning exercise. The species selected for this initial kit are those of concern for the most OTs:

E. Risk mitigation measures and management strategies (PDF) A review of existing literature on potential risk mitigation measures and management strategies for reducing the impact and presence of 25 marine invasive non-native species listed in documents D, showing where mitigation activities have been found to work.

Reference list (Word).

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Biosecurity toolkits

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