Recreational boat operators' self-management of biofouling in Australia

Overview \r\n This report presents key results from a national survey of 1,585 recreational boat operators about their vessel biofouling management actions. The purpose was to inform a national communication approach to reducing the risk of marine pest translocation via biofouling of recreational boats in the Australian marine environment. \r\n\r\n Biofouling is a term for the growth on a boat's hull that can move invasive pests and diseases from one marine environment to another, which is a biosecurity risk. \r\n\r\n Australia's national approach to domestic marine pest biosecurity relies on voluntary uptake of the national biofouling management guidelines by recreational vessel operators, to prevent and manage biofouling growth. \r\n\r\n Key Issues \r\n The study found that a large proportion of recreational boat operators already undertake a range of effective biofouling management actions on a regular basis, with more than 60 per cent using best-practice approaches, such as regularly cleaning the boat hull and niche areas of the boat, renewing anti-fouling coatings each year and capturing biofouling waste after cleaning. \r\n\r\n The majority of respondents demonstrated considerable interest in doing the right thing to protect the environment. The analysis presents opportunities to develop messaging that could be used as part of future engagement strategies with recreational boaters to influence behaviour voluntarily and promote best practice biofouling management activities.

概述
本报告呈现了一项针对1585名休闲船舶运营商开展的全国性调查的核心结果，调查内容为其船舶生物污损（biofouling）管理行动。本次调查旨在为制定全国性沟通策略提供依据，以降低澳大利亚海洋环境中因休闲船舶生物污损导致的海洋有害生物转移风险。

生物污损（biofouling）指附着于船舶船体的生物生长现象，该现象可将外来有害生物与病原体从一处海洋环境转移至另一处，构成生物安全风险。

澳大利亚国内针对海洋有害生物的全国性生物安全防控策略，依赖休闲船舶运营商自愿采纳全国性生物污损管理指南，以预防和管控生物污损的滋生。

核心议题
研究发现，绝大多数休闲船舶运营商会定期开展一系列行之有效的生物污损管理举措，其中超60%的运营商采用了最佳实践方案，例如定期清洁船舶船体及缝隙区域、每年更新防污涂料，以及对清洁产生的生物污损废弃物进行收集处置。

绝大多数受访者展现出强烈的环境保护意愿，希望采取正确行动保护海洋环境。本次分析为打造针对性传播内容提供了契机，可将其纳入未来与休闲船民的沟通策略中，以自愿引导其行为优化，并推广符合最佳实践的生物污损管理活动。