Pests & diseases

Reporting aquatic pests and diseases

Report a pest species

If a pest population is discovered early on and reported to DPI, there is a greater chance it can be brought under control.

What should I do if I find a pest?

If you think you've seen any of the marine or freshwater pest species listed on this website, please collect a sample of the organism. If it's a fish, place it in a plastic bag and freeze it. If it's a sample of seaweed, take the piece(s) home and carefully dry them between two sheets of blotting paper. Report your sighting to NSW DPI.

To report a sighting

Either phone: 02 4916 3877 (recorded 24 hour service)
Or complete the online form
Or email aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.gov.au

NSW DPI Aquatic Biosecurity
Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Locked Bag 1
Nelson Bay NSW 2315
Fax: 02 4982 1107

Report a fish kill

A fish kill is defined as "any sudden and unexpected mass mortality of wild or cultured fish".

Fish kills are often very visible events, which cause considerable interest and concern to the public and the media because they're often perceived to be the result of pollution or contamination of waters. In fact, there are many and varied causes of fish kills, and a large proportion are due to natural events.

Fish kills in the wild should also be reported to a fisheries officer and/or a Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) officer.

For more information on fish kills and how you can report them, read:

Fish kill protocol 58.2 kb
FIsh kills in NSW 123.5 kb

Reporting aquatic animal diseases

Unusual disease signs, or unexplained deaths in cultured or wild fish, should always be reported to NSW DPI.

The presence or suspected presence of a declared disease must by law be reported to a fisheries officer.

For other information on reporting suspected diseases in NSW, contact:

Manager
Aquatic Biosecurity and Risk Management
Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Ph: 02 4982 1232
or
Veterinary Officer
Aquatic Animal Health at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in Menangle on 02 4640 6310

Reporting marine and freshwater pest species

If you think you've seen any of the marine or freshwater pest species listed on this website in an unexpected location, or you find another species you suspect is a new introduction, please collect a sample of the organism and/or take a good quality photograph. If it's a fish, place it in a plastic bag and freeze it. If it's a sample of seaweed, take it home and carefully dry it between two sheets of blotting paper.