Figures from PIRSA’s latest annual report show the lengths taken to protect SA’s fruit fly free status.
During the past 12 months, quarantine stations made 80 interceptions of produce with larvae present, which were destined for SA, and PIRSA responded to five incidents of fruit fly larvae in imported commercial produce.
PIRSA also managed the regular inspection of 7629 fruit fly traps across metropolitan Adelaide, the Riverland production area, Port Augusta and Ceduna.
They also responded to 577 calls made to the Fruit Fly Hotline and responded to 38 calls made to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline.
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said the detection at quarantine stations and number of reports to the Fruit Fly hotline showed the importance of investing in the state’s fruit fly program and the need to keep export food producing areas fruit fly free.
“SA’s world-class biosecurity status is pivotal for our international market access and given SA’s exports have only remained steady, we must continue to utilise every possible advantage to boost trade,” he said.
“The Riverland, in particular, is a key food bowl and export region of SA and it is critical fruit fly is not carried into the region.”
PIRSA also deployed the largest fruit fly response in 14 years in metropolitan Adelaide after several incursions of Mediterranean fruit fly in the inner southern suburbs.