While several freshwater pest fish species have long term established populations in NSW, there has been a marked increase in the number of ornamental fish species reported as established in the wild. These ornamental pest fish introductions are believed to occur through both accidental and intentional release. Some may have been released by owners that no longer want the fish but were unaware of the options available for appropriate disposal, humane destruction of fish, and the environmental consequences of release. To learn about responsible aquarium fish keeping and help reduce the risk of ornamental fish invasions please see our Aquarium owners and trade pages.
Below are some of the key freshwater finfish pest species for NSW. Learn to recognise, and be aware of, the below pests so you can report any suspected new sighting and help reduce the risks of these species spreading in NSW.
