Removal and disposal are the principal tools in preventing AGM becoming established
The West of England P&I Club has issued new Loss Prevention Bulletin on the issue ofAsian Gypsy Moth.
The Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) is a highly destructive forest pest that feeds on both deciduous and coniferous trees. The voracious appetite of AGM larvae (caterpillars) coupled with the ability of the female moth to travel up to 21 nautical miles can cause widespread defoliation leaving trees weakened and susceptible to disease and other pests.
Due to the destructive nature of the AGM, the following countries, where the pest is not indigenous, have procedures in place to prevent AGM entering on vessels and becoming established:
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- New Zealand
- United States
AGM Flight Season
Of concern to countries attempting to prevent the introduction of the AGM are vessels that have called at ports in the AGM high risk area in the Far East during the flight season in the previous year.
The timing of the flight season depends on the country concerned. Canada, the United States and Chile base their AGM policy on the following flight seasons:
| Asian Gypsy Moth Endemic Area | Female Flight Seasons |
| Russian Far East |
1 July to 30 September (USA: 15 July to 30 September) |
| Korea | 1 June to 30 September |
| Northern China | 1 June to 30 September |
|
Northern Japan (Aomori, Fukushima, Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures) |
1 June to 30 September |
|
Western Japan (Akita, Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama and Yamagata Prefectures) |
25 June to 15 September |
|
Eastern Japan (Aichi, Chiba, Fukui, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Mie, Shizuoka and Tokyo Prefectures) |
20 June to 20 August |
|
Southern Japan (Ehime, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Okayama, Osaka, Saga, Shimane, Tottori, Tokushima, Wakayama and Yamaguchi Prefectures) |
20 June to 20 August |
|
Far Southern Japan (Okinawa Prefecture) |
25 May to 30 June |
Inspections
The inspection of vessels for the presence of egg masses, their removal and disposal are the principal tools in preventing AGM becoming established in new regions. Some destination countries require vessels that have called in high risk countries during the flight season to be inspected for the presence of AGM by a nominated authority immediately prior to departure. If no signs of AGM infestation are found, the nominated authority will issue the vessel with certification stating that it is free of AGM; depending on the issuing authority the certificate may be a Certificate of Inspection of Freedom from the Asian Gypsy Moth or a Phytosanitary Certificate. If multiple ports in the same country or a number of ports in different countries within the high risk area are visited, the official inspection should be undertaken immediately prior to departure from the last port in the high risk area.
Regardless of any requirement for an official inspection, in order to mitigate the risk of infestation when calling at ports in the high risk area during the AGM flight season, vessels should:
|
Source: West of England P&I Club / Image Credit:Canadian Food Inspection Agency
For more details please read the relevant bulletin issued by the West of England P&I Club:
