​The clean boats, clean ports framework guides the Protect our Islands programme for inter-island biosecurity. The framework suggests actions to prevent the spread of invasive species within Pacific island countries and territories.
Introductory reading
If you are not familiar with tools to prevent the spread of invasive species in the Pacific, you can read these three guides available from the SPREP Battler Resource Base as a first step.
  • Protect our islands with biosecurity This guide outlines biosecurity principles and practice for Pacific island countries and territories. The focus is on domestic biosecurity and it does not replace agreed best practice for international biosecurity.
  • clean boats, clean ports: a framework to protect Pacific island countries and territories from invasive species This guide introduces the clean boats, clean ports framework and how it can help countries enhance the good things they already do, and add new activities.
  • Catch it early Another key component of domestic biosecurity is detecting new arrivals early and responding quickly once they are detected.
What is the clean boats, clean ports framework?
Pacific island countries and territories collaborate for effective international prevention (Biosecurity/Quarantine). Biosecurity/Quarantine teams are mainly based at international entry points. Effective inter-island prevention of invasive species spread can be difficult because of small workforces in distant islands and difficulties in keeping training up to date. 

The Pacific islands region is a diverse place. Differences among countries and territories due to population size, number of islands, economic and development status all affect ability to prevent the spread of invasive species. 

Because all countries face different challenges, a one-size-fits-all approach to prevent the spread of invasive species is unrealistic. So, we have developed a regional approach that can incorporate this diversity. The clean boats, clean ports framework promotes flexible options that countries can adopt, depending on their unique circumstances. 

One of the fundamental principles of biosecurity is to manage risk at its source. This is the basis for clean boats, clean ports: to manage invasive species risks at the main port(s) of entry. The framework uses a checklist as a tool to focus on steps to reduce the risk of invasive species:
  • At ports (and airports) and the areas around these sites in the main international arrival point (at least), up to and including the whole island, and 
  • On boats, including smaller boats that operate locally, and larger ferries and cargo vessels that service distant islands.
 
clean boats, clean ports checklist and assessment
Anyone can do a clean boats, clean ports assessment for their country using the online survey in English and French. There are approximately 70 questions in the survey, and it can be completed in less than 30 minutes.

​The assessment is being built into the PRISMSS navigator system, which provides another option for National Invasive Species Coordinators to update their information.

You can contact PRISMSS for guidance through the assessment process, and what the next steps are.

"All necessary steps"
Many countries have adopted the Model Law for biosecurity in the Pacific or based their legislation closely on the Model Law.
The Model Law has a clause that specifies:
"Environmental obligations of masters and captains
21. (1) The master of every incoming vessel must, while the vessel is in [NAME OF STATE] - 
(a) take all necessary steps to prevent any animal on board the vessel from making contact with any animal on shore unless permitted by a biosecurity officer, and then only as directed by the officer;"

This clause provides an opportunity to enhance preventive steps required of vessels. However, to date, the full range of "necessary steps" has not been outlined. 

Example biosecurity plans, templates and other biosecurity resources