AGRICULTURE Victoria is asking Ararat residents to know what aquatic plants they are buying, selling and growing, as they may be illegal.
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Bio-security officer Annie Lamb said three people have been caught selling water hyacinth across that state this financial year.
A man was prosecuted for displaying, possessing and selling water hyacinth on the online shopping service Gumtree in August.
He was given a six month good behaviour bond and ordered to make a $1000 donation to the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
A woman was fined and given a 12 month good behaviour bond for similar offences in January.
Another woman was also caught offering water hyacinth for sale on Gumtree and Facebook and may face the Magistrates Court later this year.
Sixty-four water hyacinth plants were removed from a backyard pond and more plants were subsequently removed from two other properties.
Due to its attractive flower and popularity in other countries, water hyacinth is regularly reported being sold at markets.
Ms Lamb said a good deal of trade in noxious weed species goes unreported.
“Many people selling water hyacinth don’t know what the plant is, so they don’t realise they are selling a State prohibited weed,” she said.
“People have bought plants that grow rapidly and have a pretty flower, they on-sell them and, in doing so, spread this invasive species throughout the community.”
She said water hyacinth originates is a highly invasive plant that can form dense mats across waterways, rendering them unusable for transport and recreation.
Infestations can also kill aquatic life by blocking light and reducing oxygen levels.
“Once it enters a waterway it can be very expensive to control,” Ms Lamb said.
“Water hyacinth is widespread in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and parts of eastern Australia, but it is currently not established in Victoria.
“Efforts to prevent it spreading and causing major damage to waterways are a priority for Victoria.”