Protected fish and invertebrates

Protected animals are prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 under conservation classes.

While most fish and aquatic invertebrates are regulated under the Fisheries Act 1994, there are some species that are specifically listed under conservation classes as protected animals under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

This includes those fish and aquatic invertebrate species that become listed as threatened (i.e. critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable), near threatened or least concern.

If a fish species is not listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, it is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. There are also certain fish species that, although protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, are managed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for particular activities, such as recreational fishing and commercial use.

The table below provides a reference for species listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Keeping and using particular protected fish and invertebrates

In Queensland, people interact with protected animals in many ways—including keeping native animals as pets, or for a hobby, and for the wildlife pet industry. These recreational and commercial interactions are regulated under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to ensure impacts are managed and viable wild populations are maintained. Protected fish and aquatic invertebrate species are categorised and managed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for commercial/recreational purposes. Authorisation is required under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for the take, keep, use and release of protected animals.

The table below provides the category and management intent for protected fish and aquatic invertebrate species prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Critically endangered

Species	Nature Conservation Act 1992	Fisheries Act 1994
Cairnsichthys bitaeniatus Daintree rainbowfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take or release Commercial – keep and use not permitted Recreational – restricted keep and use permitted Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	No take, keep or use Reporting requirements for non-targeted harvesting
Centroberyx affinis redfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	No take, keep or use Reporting requirements for non-targeted harvesting
Euastacus bindal Mount Elliot crayfish Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus binzayedi Embezee’s crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus dalagarbe mud gully crayfish Protected as of 25 November 2022	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus jagara Jagara hairy crayfish Protected as of 22 August 2020	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus maidae hinterland spiny crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus yigara Cardwell hairy crayfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Melanotaenia sp. nov. ‘Malanda’ Malanda rainbowfish Protected as of 25 November 2022	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a
Melanotaenia sp. nov. ‘Running River’ Running River rainbowfish Protected as of 25 November 2022	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a

Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Endangered

Species	Nature Conservation Act 1992	Fisheries Act 1994
Bidyanus bidyanus silver perch Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take or release Keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 August 2024 Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	Regulated recreational fishing and commercial use
Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides Cairns rainbowfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a
Carcharias taurus greynurse shark Protected as of 19 December 2003	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Chlamydogobius micropterus Elizabeth Springs goby Protected as of 12 December 1997	No take or release Commercial – keep and use not permitted Recreational – restricted keep and use permitted Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	n/a
Chlamydogobius squamigenus Edgbaston goby Protected as of 12 December 1997	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a
Euastacus balanensis Balan spiny crayfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus eungella Eungella spiny crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus fleckeri Flecker’s crayfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus hystricosus Conondale spiny crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take or release Commercial – keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 April 2021 under a farming licence Recreational – restricted keep, no use	n/a
Euastacus monteithorum Monteith’s spiny crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus robertsi Robert’s crayfish Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Euastacus suttoni Sutton’s crayfish Protected as of 30 June 2023	No take or release Commercial – keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 30 June 2023 under a farming licence Recreational – restricted keep, no use	n/a
Euastacus urospinosus Maleny crayfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Hippocampus whitei White’s seahorse Protected as of 22 August 2020	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
mariensis Mary River cod Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take or release Keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 August 2024 Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	Regulated recreational fishing and commercial use
Mogurnda clivicola Flinders Ranges mogurnda Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take or release Commercial – keep and use not permitted Recreational – restricted keep and use permitted Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	n/a
Mordacia praecox non-parasitic lamprey Protected as of 8 December 2023	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Nannoperca oxleyana Oxleyan pygmy perch Protected as of 16 December 1994	No take or release Commercial – keep and use not permitted Recreational – restricted keep and use permitted Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	n/a
Pseudomugil mellis honey blue eye Protected as of 12 December 1997	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a
Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis redfin blue eye Protected as of 12 December 1997	Exempt animal No take or release Commercial – keep and use permitted Recreational – keep and use permitted	n/a
Sphyrna lewini scalloped hammerhead Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take, keep, use or release Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	No take, keep or use Reporting requirements for non-targeted harvesting
Tenuibranchiurus glypticus swamp crayfish Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a

Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Vulnerable

Species	Nature Conservation Act 1992	Fisheries Act 1994
Cherax robustus sand yabby Protected as of 29 April 2021	No take or release Commercial – keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 April 2021 under a farming licence Recreational – restricted keep, no use	n/a
Neoceratodus forsteri Australian lungfish Protected as of 1 September 2024	No take or release Keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 August 2024 Note: See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020	No take Regulated commercial use
Stiphodon pelewensis Daintree cling goby Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Stiphodon rutilaureus orange cling goby Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a
Stiphodon surrufus emerald cling goby Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a

Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Near threatened

Species	Nature Conservation Act 1992	Fisheries Act 1994
Hemitrygon fluviorum estuary stingray Protected as of 28 August 2015	No take, keep, use or release	n/a

Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Least concern

Species	Nature Conservation Act 1992	Fisheries Act 1994
Euastacus sulcatus Lamington spiny crayfish Protected as of 25 November 2022	No take or release Commercial – keep and use for animals lawfully obtained prior to 29 April 2021 under a farming licence Recreational – restricted keep, no use	n/a

Last updated:: 1 September 2024

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