Staff at Melbourne’s international mail centre received a surprise when they found live sea creatures in a package sent by express post from Thailand.
The high-risk package, which was inspected by biosecurity officers, contained two ornamental tiger shrimp (Caradina Cantonensis) in water as well as a culture intended to be food for the shrimp.
The shrimp were discovered during a routine X-ray of mail by an officer from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service who notified Department of Agriculture officers.
No species of live shrimp or crustacean can be imported into Australia. Although the shrimp were not exotic (they do exist in the warmer climate of Northern Australia), there are risks that freshwater marine life can carry bacterial and fungal pests and pathogens.
The shrimp had to be humanely euthanased. The Department of Agriculture is investigating the importation.
From DAFF
