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.

We have published the final BIRA report and completed the BIRA. Development of the import conditions will now commence and is expected to take some time.

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.

As risk management measures have not been established for live sturgeon, we conducted 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.

About the final BIRA report

The sturgeon BIRA has undergone rigorous scientific review. This includes public consultation, independent review by technical experts on fish diseases, and review by the scientific advisory group (SAG).

The final BIRA report details:

diseases of biosecurity concern
risk assessments for the identified diseases
recommended risk management measures.

The final BIRA report identified disease agents that need specific risk management measures. These agents 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 final BIRA report recommends that live sturgeon can be imported into Australia, provided they comply with appropriate risk management measures. These measures include:

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

Download the final report

Final report for the import of live sturgeon for aquaculture (PDF 5.2 MB)
Final report for the import of live sturgeon for aquaculture (DOCX 6.68 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Implementation of import conditions

Before an import permit application to import live sturgeon and their reproductive material for aquaculture purposes can be considered by us or the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), several activities need to be completed and the final import conditions published on our Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) webpage. Please refer to the implementation statement for these activities.

The below timeline is based on the activities outlined in the implementation statement.

DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
DCCEEW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
BICON Biosecurity Import Conditions system.
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
S & T Australian states and territories.

Download the implementation statement

Sturgeon BIRA implementation statement (PDF 725 KB)
Sturgeon BIRA implementation statement (DOCX 2.78 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.