Aquarium fish make great pets, but if they are dumped or released into the wild they can pose a serious threat to Australia's aquatic biodiversity. Releases of ornamental fish in the past have resulted in a number of exotic fish species establishing a presence in Australia, seriously affecting the biodiversity of our freshwater systems.

As a first step in addressing the risk of ornamental fish forming wild populations and impacting on natural plants and animals, the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council endorsed the national strategy - A Strategic Approach to the Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia. The strategy was developed in close consultation with industry and other stakeholders and published by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in 2006. It discusses the potential for aquarium fish to become pests and makes seven main recommendations on managing and regulating their trade.

An Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group (OFMIG) has been created to progress the implementation of the strategy. This group has representatives from all government jurisdictions as well as industry and hobby sector representatives and a member from the Aquatic Animal Health Committee. The Department of Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia (PIRSA) currently perform the Secretariat function for OFMIG. For information on OFMIG and implementation of the strategy, please contact Heidi Bartram at PIRSA on:

Switchboard: +61 2 6272 3933
Fax:  08 8226 0434
Email:  bartram.heidi@saugov.sa.gov.au
Web:  http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/ornamental_fish