AUSTRALIA, September 4 - On the 5 September 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the spread of climate-related marine invasive species to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 March 2023, with the following terms of reference:

The spread of climate-related marine invasive species, particularly long spined sea urchins (Centrostephanus rodgersii) along the Great Southern Reef, with particular reference to:

(a) the existing body of research and knowledge on the risks for and damage to marine biodiversity, habitat and fisheries caused by the proliferation and range shifting of non-endemic long spined sea urchins;
(b) management options, challenges and opportunities to better mitigate or adapt to these threats, and governance measures that are inclusive of First Nations communities;
(c) funding requirements, responsibility, and pathways to better manage and co-ordinate stopping the spread of climate-related marine invasive species;
(d) the importance of tackling the spread of invasive urchin ‘barrens’ to help facilitate marine ecosystem restoration efforts (such as for Tasmanian Giant Kelp Macrocystis pyrifera); and
(e) any other related matters.

The closing date for submissions is 13 October 2022.