We are committed to high level biosecurity practices. These guidelines help prevent any Biosecurity Risk Material from being brought to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic, or being moved between islands or ice-free areas.

Everyone who is involved with projects (including staff who are not travelling south but are packing for a project) must adhere to the following guidelines.

Going to Antarctica or the sub-Antarctic

  • Ensure that all clothing, footwear and personal effects are free of Biosecurity Risk Material (BRM).
  • Ensure that all work equipment, including backpacks, tents and equipment bags are clean/sterilised and free of BRM. This includes new items in original packaging.
  • Once clean, items must be packed into clean, new cardboard boxes or clean/new plastic bins. These boxes or bins must have all openings sealed (for example, all box or bin edges are sealed with packing tape).
  • Polystyrene beads, chips or similar packaging are prohibited in Antarctica. Check all new items for these materials and remove excess packaging such as paper, plastic and cardboard where possible.

In Antarctica or the sub-Antarctic

  • Ensure that clothing, personal effects, packs, tents and equipment bags are cleaned between major locations (such as different wildlife colonies or ice free areas).
  • Ensure that terrestrial and freshwater scientific sampling field equipment (such as lake nets) can be sterilised, and are sterilised, between sampling locations. Otherwise, use duplicate sets of equipment.
  • If you are unsure about when, where or how you should clean clothing and equipment, check with the Station Environmental Officer or email the Environmental Management helpdesk.

The AAD provides cargo, logistics and biosecurity support for the AAP. For further information, please refer to the cargo (freight) section.

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