The Queensland Seaports eDNA Surveillance (Q‑SEAS) program delivers a coordinated, long‑term approach to marine biosecurity across Queensland’s major ports. By applying consistent, seasonal, broad-scale surveillance, the program builds robust evidence base for prevention, preparedness and timely response in high‑risk maritime environments.
Q‑SEAS is underpinned by eDNA, enabling detection of a wide range of invasive species, including cryptic taxa and early life stages. Repeated, standardised sampling creates comparable time‑series datasets that increases confidence in pest status, supports risk‑based responses to potential incursions, and advances understanding of emerging biosecurity risk profiles under changing environmental conditions.
Advancing surveillance science and practice is also a strong program driver, with recent research into passive sampling demonstrating improved safety, access and reduced logistical constraints associated with traditional settlement-plate methods in busy or restricted port environments. Findings indicate shorter‑duration passive deployments can provide comparable detection for defined invasive taxa and objectives, while offering advantages in portability, handling and deployment feasibility, enabling a more flexible, risk‑informed surveillance toolkit.
By strengthening early detection and generating transferable knowledge, Q‑SEAS supports shared environmental stewardship and biosecurity assurance through strategic integration and information‑sharing across state, federal and international biosecurity arrangements.