Currently listed noxious fish and marine vegetation
Some species are considered to be such significant pests, or potential pests, that they have been declared noxious fish or noxious marine vegetation under the Fisheries Management Act. NSW DPI is undertaking a review of these noxious listings in 2008.
Currently there are 3 classes of noxious fish or marine vegetation in NSW, representing the different levels of threat they pose to the aquatic environment. Different rules apply for each class in regard to the possession or sale of these species. Heavy penalties of up to $11,000 apply for breaking these rules.
Noxious listing provides NSW DPI with the power to seize and destroy the noxious species, or require their destruction, under certain circumstances or for certain classes of species.
Listed Species |
Class |
Posession |
Sale |
Destruction |
Management |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aquarium |
Garden pond |
Farm dam |
|||||
Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus, Tilapia zilii, Tilapia mariae) Black striped mussel (all species of the genus Mytilopsis) Aquarium caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia) Mosquitofish/ Plague minnow (Gambusia holbrooki), but only in waters outside the Greater Sydney* area |
Class 1 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Strategies developed for rapid response to any outbreaks. Permit required for possession or sale. |
Banded grunter (Amniataba percoides) Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in estuarine and ocean waters (other than Port Stephens) Speckled mosquito fish (Phalloceros caudimaculatus) |
Class 2 |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes (conditional*) * destruction of fish is not required if kept in fully contained aquarium * destruction of Pacific oysters is required in coastal waters outside Port Stephens) |
Permits required for possession or sale. Eradication where possible. |
Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Mosquitofish/ Plague minnow (Gambusia holbrooki), but only in waters within the Greater Sydney* area |
Class 3 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Education and awareness campaign to discourage possession and sale. |
* NB: 'Greater Sydney' means the local government areas of Ashfield, Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Botany Bay, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury, City of Sydney, Fairfield, Gosford, Holroyd, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Hurstville, Kogarah, Ku-ring-gai, Lake Macquarie, Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Liverpool, Manly, Marrickville, Mosman, Newcastle, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Pittwater, Randwick, Rockdale, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland, Warringah, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollongong, Woollahra and Wyong.
Under recent changes to the Fisheries Management Act and Regulations , it is now illegal to import any live noxious fish ( or certain other aquarium , aquaculture and pest species) into NSW without a permit. List of restricted species.