Your legal obligation for invasive freshwater animals
Queensland has the highest diversity of freshwater fish in Australia. Unfortunately this diversity is threatened by invasive fish (also called 'non-indigenous' or ‘pest’ fish), which have successfully established in some of our waterways. Some invasive fish pose such a threat to Queensland waters that they have been listed as 'noxious' in Queensland legislation.
Noxious fish
Noxious fish are invasive fish that have been declared as harmful by Queensland law because they are, or may become, a serious pest to native aquatic communities and require specific actions and restrictions to manage them. Noxious fish have characteristics that are detrimental to other fish, aquatic habitats or humans.
Your legal requirements
Prohibited noxious fish
The Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) identifies 125 species as prohibited noxious fish (refer to Schedule 1, noxious fish of the Act). These species are not in Queensland nor are they able to be brought into Queensland. If sighted they must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of the sighting.
Restricted noxious fish
The Act identifies 10 species as restricted noxious fish (refer to Schedule 2, noxious fish of the Act):
- alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)
- black pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)
- carp (Cyprinus carpio)
- Chinese weatherfish, weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)
- climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)
- gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki)
- giant cichlid, yellow belly cichlid (Boulengerochromis microlepis)
- marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus)
- spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
- tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and Tilapia mariae).
If sighted, you must report the following fish to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours:
- alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)
- black pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)
- giant cichlid (Boulengerochromis microlepis)
- marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus)
- spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus).
You must not move, give away, sell, or release these fish into the environment without a permit. You have general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of these fish from escaping until you receive advice from an authorised officer.
If caught, you must immediately humanely kill and dispose of the following fish responsibly away from the water body, and you must not use them for bait:
- carp (Cyprinus carpio)
- Chinese weatherfish (weatherloach) (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)
- climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)
- gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki)
- tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and Tilapia mariae).
You must not be keep, feed, give away, sell, or release these fish into the environment without a permit. By law, you have a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with restricted noxious fish under your control.
Banned as bait
You can’t use noxious fish as bait. Don’t return these fish to the water, dead or alive. To achieve your general biosecurity obligation, don’t use any invasive fish as bait.
Prohibited high-risk aquarium animals
To achieve your general biosecurity obligation relating to non-native, high-risk, ornamental fish, you must not possess or bring any listed prohibited species into Queensland. If you believe you have any of these species, you should immediately contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries t arrange what to do.
See the Prohibited and restricted noxious fish of Queensland fact sheet for all listed species.
In Queensland, any species not listed on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Live Import List are also considered biosecurity matter.
It is an offence to import or trade these species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
In Queensland you are not permitted to keep offspring of fish or other invertebrates that were bred in Australia before import restrictions on that species.
A factsheet is available with further information on importing, trade and keeping aquarium fish in Queensland (PDF, 2MB)
Read more about identifying invasive freshwater animals.
Invasive Plants and Animals Committee
The Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC) is a cross-jurisdictional sectoral sub-committee of the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC). The committee is responsible for implementing the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) and providing policy and technical advice to the NBC on national weed, vertebrate pest and freshwater invertebrate pests.
IPAC develop policy and assess risks for freshwater fish. View the latest information on importing exotic fish.
Report illegal invasive fish activities
Contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 to report illegal invasive fish activities in Queensland.
Phone the Fishwatch Hotline on 1800 017 116, to report illegal fishing activities in Queensland.