The annual Biosecurity Blitz kicks off tomorrow (16 October) encouraging the community to report unusual pests and diseases in the paddock, waterways or the backyard to help protect Western Australia's primary industries and environment.
The annual Biosecurity Blitz kicks off tomorrow (16 October) encouraging the community to report unusual pests and diseases in the paddock, waterways or the backyard to help protect Western Australia's primary industries and environment.
This year marks 10 years since the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD's) Biosecurity Blitz was launched and the release of the department's valuable MyPestGuide Reporter app, the surveillance tool used for community-based reporting.
Biosecurity Blitz will run from 16 October to 16 November 2025 and includes reporting aquatic pests for the first time.
DPIRD Plant Biosecurity Technical Area Manager Nichole Hammond said citizen science reporting was a vital part of the State's biosecurity defences.
"The information collected through the Biosecurity Blitz is crucial to WA's surveillance program as it can help detect new pests and diseases, as well as provide evidence of their absence - protecting the State and supporting our ability to maintain and expand market access," she said.
"The Blitz starts on World Food Day, highlighting how maintaining strong biosecurity systems is critical to food security, ensuring WA continues to provide safe, quality and nutritious food locally and around the world."
Ms Hammond said since launching Biosecurity Blitz and a suite of MyPestGuide digital tools in 2015, more than 9500 reports have been made by farmers, agronomists and the community using the MyPestGuide Reporter app, as a part of the annual event.
"Some of the more interesting reports over the past 10 years include new spider species, the slater or woodlouse hunting spider and native trap door spider, as well as a leaf footed bug," she said.
"I encourage all Western Australians to become citizen scientists and join this year's Biosecurity Blitz.
"The more eyes we have out there the better - early detection is the key to being able to contain and eradicate unwanted pests and diseases before they can establish.
"It only takes a few minutes to make a report using the MyPestGuide Reporter app , which can be downloaded for free from Google Play and Apple App Store ."
For more information and to sign up for this year's Biosecurity Blitz visit the Biosecurity Blitz webpage .
