Gordon Yearsley1, Meaghan Dodd1 and John Huisman1,2
1Aquatic Plant Names Committee, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, ACT, Australia
2Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, WA, Australia
Given the rapidly emerging commercial trade in aquatic plants, industry representatives have collaborated to develop a list of standard names for current commercial, and potentially commercial, edible aquatic plant species. Recognising the need for such a Standard, in 2020 the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (a Standards Development Organisation with Standards Australia) established the Aquatic Plant Names Committee to manage the Standard. The first published Australian Standard for Aquatic Plant Names (AS 5301) included 49 Standard Names representing species from six broad groups: brown algae, cyanobacteria, green algae, red algae, aquatic protists and flowering plants. The Standard defines requirements for using the Standard Names and explains the benefits across the scope of public health and safety, social and community impact, environmental impact, competition, and economic impact. Subsequent to the publication of the first Standard, further Standard Names have been included via a rigorous and consultative application and assessment process.