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Ornamental fish: pets or pests?
The ornamental fish industry in Australia - which includes traders, fish breeders, retail outlets and the hobby industry - is estimated to be worth $350 million a year.
Aquarium fish make great pets, but if they are released into the wild they can pose a serious threat to Australia’s aquatic biodiversity.
Ornamental fish and aquarium plants can be dumped or released, often making their way into our waterways. This has resulted in a number of exotic fish species establishing a presence in Australia, seriously affecting the biodiversity of our freshwater systems.
Whereas some control is already occurring, through quarantine regulations and State fishery regulations, there is no consistency between the regulatory agencies dealing with the issue of noxious, aquatic pests. Despite several attempts to regulate the industry, nothing workable has eventuated.
To address this problem, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council has endorsed a national strategy - A Strategic Approach to the Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia. The strategy was developed by the Ornamental Fish Policy Working Group in close consultation with industry and other stakeholders. It looks at the potential for aquarium fish to become pests and makes seven main recommendations on managing and regulating their trade. Key recommendations include the need for a nationally recognised noxious species list; new management frameworks for the ornamental sector, better communication with stakeholders and a public awareness campaign on the dangers of releasing fish where they can get into waterways, and what to do with them if they are no longer wanted.
An Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group has been created to progress the implementation of the strategy. This group has representatives from all jurisdictions as well as industry and hobby sector representatives and a member from the Aquatic Animal Health Committee.
A copy of A Strategic Approach to the Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia can be obtained through the BRS Shop.