Sharing best practice for biosecurity Martin Fenn Senior Environmental Monitoring Officer 5th February 2019 Mainly looking at how we share biosecurity best practice throughout the EA with some of our biosecurity best practices included for good measure

What the Environment Agency does We protect and improve the environment We help people and wildlife adapt to climate change and reduce its impacts. We improve the quality of our water, land and air by tackling pollution. We work as part of the Defra group to create a better place for people and wildlife. Important to highlight the range of activities we undertake e.g. monitoring, ops delivery work, etc…. Executive Board want us to be an exemplar organisation when it comes to biosecurity

Biosecurity isn’t an optional extra It’s fundamental to how we do our job professionally

Our approach Inform staff of the risks and potential consequences; encourage them to innovate, suggesting ways they can adapt the way they work to reduce the risk of spread; enthuse staff to share and adopt their ideas.

How we do this Nationally Locally ISAG ISBN Newsletters Yammer Biosecurity Working Groups Area Biosecurity Action Plans Area Biosecurity Risk Assessments

National Invasive Species Action Group (ISAG) Comprises of: Sub groups National Staff Area staff Sub groups Knowledge and Innovation Communications Invasive Species Management Biosecurity Task and Finish Group set up to look at biosecurity kit ISAG’s purpose is to provide governance over our programme, to lead the management of invasive species within the Environment Agency and to promote our work to manage invasive species within our organisation and other external organisations. The group meets every four months and as appropriate to discuss progress against our programme of work and to identify any additional actions required to deliver the programme. The group’s membership includes a broad range of experience and expertise and members from across the organisation

Spread the word not the problem National Invasive Species and Biosecurity Network (ISBN) Area champions Spread the word not the problem Act as ‘Area champions’ for biosecurity and promoting the INNS communications campaign; Work with the hub ISAG Invasive Species Action Group representatives and other ISBN (Invasive Species and Biosecurity Network contacts within the region to coordinate communication; Seek opportunities to promote the campaign within offices, depots and at events; Work with individual teams to act as a ‘critical friend’ to review biosecurity practices and discuss the campaign within team meetings. Bi-monthly telecons

National Newsletters Newsletters are produced quarterly with an Invasive Species Week special edition

National Yammer

Local Biosecurity Working Groups 14 groups around the country in each EA area Members from different teams within the area

Biosecurity Action Plan Every area produces one

Biosecurity Risk Assessment

Asset requirement list

Extras PhD student, University of Leeds E-learning Steam pressure washers Disinfectant experiment Hazard perception E-learning Steam pressure washer trials impact on killer shrimp, zebra mussels, floating pennywort and Crassula (machine temp set at 90c). Still writing up results but some mortality, although Crassula needed extended period of treatment. Also testing different pressure washers around country to check heat loss Disinfectant experiment effect of soaking and spraying on killer shrimp, zebra mussels, quagga mussels and floating pennywort using Virkon S, Virkon Aquatic and Virasure Aquatic. Still writing up results Hazard perception surveying undergraduates and masters students to assess biosecurity awareness and knowledge retention Better biosecurity e-learning

Extras Invasive Species Week 13th to 17th May 2019

Extras Guidance

The Future? Work in progress Governments 25 year plan Research

Questions?