Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on March 26, 2012, 07:22:14 PM
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Protect local ecosystems: Don't move native fish
QPIF News release | 20 March, 2012
Anglers are being urged to protect local ecosystems by keeping native fish where they belong following the recent discovery of sleepy cod in the Thompson River near Longreach.
Sleepy cod are a native Australian fish widespread in north Queensland, including the Fitzroy River, throughout Cape York and the Gulf. However, they do not occur naturally in the rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin.
Fisheries Queensland Principal Scientist Peter Kind is concerned that the discovery of sleepy cod in the Lake Eyre Basin adds to a growing list of examples where fish have been moved into new waterways beyond their natural range.
"Redclaw crayfish have already been introduced into the Lake Eyre Basin, and the introduction of sleepy cod means that local species must now compete with another new rival," Dr Kind said.
"Sleepy cod are aggressive predators and if they have already established populations in the Thompson River, we will be powerless to eradicate them.
"Native or pest fish should not be moved between waterways as it can drastically affect the local ecosystem.
"It's illegal to translocate fish even if they are natives, as they can become huge pests outside of their natural environment. Penalties of up to $200,000 apply," Dr Kind said.
Non-native fish are sometimes introduced into our waterways through dumping of aquarium fish into creeks and ponds, using fish from other catchments as live bait, and stocking the wrong fish for their area in dams and ponds that overflow into other waterways.
For more information or to report a pest fish sighting phone 13 25 23 or visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au (http://www.fisheries.qld.gov.au)
Image: Copyright © Sweetwater Fishing Australia
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Sleepy Cod, aggressive predators?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, sorry, must be a different strain to those I'm used to.