Western Australia’s Biosecurity Blitz 2016 is coming up on 18 – 30 September 2016, to promote and focus on biosecurity community surveillance.

Following the first successful event in 2015, Biosecurity Blitz 2016 will continue to support national biosecurity efforts by running a two week event to increase community surveillance and pest reporting using the MyPestGuide Reporter app.

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) activity, aims to improve engagement in science and build a community understanding that biosecurity is a shared responsibility.

To participate in Biosecurity Blitz 2016, download the free MyPestGuide Reporter app onto your smart phone, have a look around your house, garden or local bushland for any insect, weed, animal or disease and report it back to DAFWA.

The MyPestGuide Reporter app is a reporting tool that allows anyone to take up to four photographs and then sends the report directly to DAFWA for expert identification.

If you don't have a smartphone, you can still take part via DAFWA's online MyPestGuide reporting tool.

At the end of the Biosecurity Blitz 2016, DAFWA staff will identify all organisms reported via the app, collate the data and publish a summary report on the Biosecurity Blitz website.

All reports of potential pests or diseases help safeguard Australia’s biosecurity status, support access for our high quality and safe agricultural food products into international markets.

Biosecurity Blitz 2016 is part of DAFWA’s Boosting Biosecurity Defences project and is made possible by Royalties for Regions.

To download a free reporting app, or for more information about how to participate in the Biosecurity Blitz 2016, please visit the Biosecurity Blitz webpage.