Protected fish and invertebrates
Protected animals are prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 under conservation classes.
While most fish and aquatic invertebrates are regulated under the Fisheries Act 1994, there are some species that are specifically listed under conservation classes as protected animals under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
This includes those fish and aquatic invertebrate species that become listed as threatened (i.e. critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable), near threatened or least concern.
If a fish species is not listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, it is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The table below provides a reference for species listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Keeping and using particular protected fish and invertebrates
In Queensland, people interact with protected animals in many ways—including keeping native animals as pets, or for a hobby, and for the wildlife pet industry. These recreational and commercial interactions are regulated under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to ensure impacts are managed and viable wild populations are maintained. Protected fish and aquatic invertebrate species are categorised and managed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for commercial/recreational purposes. Authorisation is required under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for the take, keep, use and release of protected animals.
The table below provides the category and management intent for protected fish and aquatic invertebrate species prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for the purposes of recreational and commercial keep and use.
Species | Nature Conservation Act 1992 | Fisheries Act 1994 |
---|---|---|
Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Critically endangered |
||
Euastacus bindal Mount Elliot crayfish Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus binzayedi Embezee’s crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus dalagarbe mud gully crayfish Protected as of25 November 2022 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus jagara Jagara hairy crayfish Protected as of22 August 2020 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus maidae hinterland spiny crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Melanotaenia sp. nov. ‘Malanda’ Malanda rainbowfish Protected as of25 November 2022 |
|
n/a |
Melanotaenia sp. nov. ‘Running River’ Running River rainbowfish Protected as of25 November 2022 |
|
n/a |
Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Endangered |
||
Carcharias taurus greynurse shark Protected as of19 December 2003 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Chlamydogobius micropterus Elizabeth Springs goby Protected as of12 December 1997 |
Note - See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 |
n/a |
Chlamydogobius squamigenus Edgbaston goby Protected as of12 December 1997 |
|
n/a |
Euastacus eungella Eungella spiny crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus hystricosus Conondale spiny crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
|
n/a |
Euastacus monteithorum Monteith’s spiny crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus robertsi Robert’s crayfish Protected as of29 April 2021 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Euastacus suttoni Sutton’s crayfish Protected as of30 June 2023 |
|
n/a |
Hippocampus whitei White’s seahorse Protected as of22 August 2020 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Nannoperca oxleyana Oxleyan pygmy perch Protected as of16 December 1994 |
Note - See section 66 under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 |
n/a |
Pseudomugil mellis honey blue eye Protected as of12 December 1997 |
|
n/a |
Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis redfin blue eye Protected as of12 December 1997 |
|
n/a |
Tenuibranchiurus glypticus swamp crayfish Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Mordacia praecox non-parasitic lamprey Protected as of8 December 2023 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Vulnerable |
||
Cherax robustus sand yabby Protected as of29 April 2021 |
|
n/a |
Stiphodon pelewensis Daintree cling goby Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Stiphodon rutilaureus orange cling goby Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Stiphodon surrufus emerald cling goby Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Near threatened |
||
Hemitrygon fluviorum estuary stingray Protected as of28 August 2015 |
No take, keep, use or release |
n/a |
Nature Conservation Act 1992 status – Least concern |
||
Euastacus sulcatus Lamington spiny crayfish Protected as of25 November 2022 |
|
n/a |