Identifying invasive freshwater animals
You can help keep invasive freshwater animals from spreading through our waterways. Be on the lookout, report sightings and follow tips to prevent the spread of invasive freshwater animals.
Invasive fish
Some invasive fish species are listed as ‘restricted’ noxious fish under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and must not be kept, fed, given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit.
When fishing, be on the lookout for these restricted invasive fish and if caught, know how to humanely kill and dispose of these fish responsibly:
High-risk ornamental fish
A number of popular species of ornamental aquarium fish are permitted to be kept in private aquariums and ponds. If released into the wild these high-risk ‘ornamental’ fish may establish populations and impact and outcompete our native fish species.
You can help protect our waterways:
- Know which species are considered suitable for live import into Australia
- Know how to dispose of high-risk ornamental fish
You must not release these ornamental fish into our waterways:
Prohibited high-risk aquarium animals
Several popular species of aquarium animals pose a significant danger to Australian native waterways and must not be released into drains, local waterways or outdoor ponds.
In Queensland, any species not listed on the Department of Environment and Energy Live Import List are considered biosecurity matter.
It is an offence to import or trade these species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
In Queensland you are not permitted to keep offspring of fish or other invertebrates that were bred in Australia before import restrictions on that species.
A factsheet is available with further information on importing, trade and keeping aquarium fish in Queensland (PDF, 2MB)
Read more about legal obligations for invasive freshwater animals
Below are some examples of high-risk aquatic species not permitted in Queensland. These species have a history of establishing invasive populations in other regions of the world, often through deliberate or accidental release from home aquariums.
Translocated native fish outside their usual range
Movement of native fish to other ecosystems outside their natural habitat can impact local waterways in much the same way as imported invasive fish. Some Queensland native fish species that have established beyond their natural or stocked range include:
- Redclaw crayfish: Naturally found in the Gulf of Carpentaria (drainage division) and from the Jacky Jacky River (basin south) to the Normanby River (basin) on the east coast of Queensland. Due to people using them as bait and stocking them into dams outside this area, they have established populations in several waterbodies across Queensland.
- Sooty grunter: Naturally found in coastal rivers north of and including the Burdekin River, Gulf of Carpentaria and west to the Daly River in the Northern Territory. They have also been stocked into many northern Queensland dams. Sooty grunter have been found in the Mary River catchment, and may threaten our endemic Mary River cod.
Further information
- Contact the Customer Service Centre
- Find out more about the Biosecurity Act 2014
- Find out more about the Fisheries Act 1994