Fishers urged to report feral fish sightings
The Department of Fisheries is urging fishers to report any sightings of non-native (introduced) fish species caught or encountered in our rivers, lakes and dams, following the reported capture of a silver perch in the Swan River at Guildford.
In addition, aquarium owners are being reminded not to release fish into rivers, ponds or lakes or to flush them down toilets or drains.
The silver perch is a species that is not native to Western Australia. Like other introduced species, it can have a destructive impact if released into our native and local freshwater ecosystems. Healthy stocks of native fish species play an important role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems and even reducing mosquito numbers by predating on the insect’s larvae.
Following the reported capture of the silver perch by a local recreational fisher in the Lilac Hill Park stretch of the river at Guildford, the Department of Fisheries, in partnership with the Swan River Trust and the Department of Water, undertook a week-long monitoring program to help determine the presence of any more silver perch or other introduced fish species.
To date no more silver perch have been detected but the Department is asking people to be on the look-out for non-native fish in the Swan and in any other water bodies in the State.
Department of Fisheries Aquatic Environment Branch Manager Rae Burrows said: “We are asking fishers and members of the public to report anything suspicious to us on our Fishwatch number on 1800 815 507.
“People need to be aware that introduced fish species such as carp, redfin perch, tilapia, yabbies, cichlids and goldfish can impact on native fish and invertebrate stocks if released and upset the balance of our iconic freshwater ecosystems. Releasing unwanted pet fish into freshwater environments poses a big threat to the health of our waters.”
More information on introduced fish species can be found at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/IMPFreshwater/index.php?0506
A leaflet produced by the Swan River Trust on feral fish in the Swan Canning Riverpark can be found at http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au/news/facts/Documents/brochure_feral_fish.pdf
bod
Posts: 2321
Date Joined: 03/05/06
hmmm..bit of an anomaly
Department of Fisheries - Farming Silver Perch Introduction
Silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus, is a freshwater finfish species exotic to Western Australia, and has been imported into this State since 1950 for the purpose of stocking inland farm dams . Imports have only been allowed under licence, subject to disease-free certification and on the basis that the fish were being placed into impounded or confined waters. Lawrence (1995) discussed the prospects for aquaculture of silver perch in Western Australia and since then the industry has only expanded slowly. A similar pattern existed in the early days of the silver perch industry in NSW, where rapid progress is now being made, and this species should still be regarded as having significant potential in WA. However, its limited salinity tolerance may restrict its usage for highly saline inland waters. This publication updates the information provided by Lawrence (1995).
Research into the hatchery production of silver perch commenced in New South Wales more than 20 years ago at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre. Since 1990, silver perch has received increasing attention as a candidate finfish species for aquaculture in NSW, Queensland and WA. In 1994, a silver perch hatchery began operation in Parkerville, WA. Silver perch fingerlings are now produced at several farms and on-grown commercially at a number of locations including Northampton, Jurien, Pemberton, Esperance, Dandaragan, Dardanup and the Perth metropolitan area.
DistributionSilver perch is native to the extensive Murray-Darling river system of south-eastern Australia. Significant populations, with patchy distributions, of silver perch are found in NSW and southern Queensland. Silver perch also occurs in small numbers in the colder regions of Victoria. Over the past 50 years, the distribution and abundance of silver perch has decreased (dramatically in the last ten years) with silver perch given the conservation status of 'potentially threatened' (Jackson, 1994) and it is possible that the species will become 'endangered' in the future (Rowland & Bryant, 1995).
Distribution within Western AustraliaAlthough silver perch is not native to WA, it has been brought here for both recreational and aquaculture ventures. Further distribution of this species within WA however, raises a number of important issues relating to the transfer of fish to waters outside their natural or previous distribution (called 'translocation'). These include the potential of the species to establish feral populations in the wild and to introduce disease. As a result the Department of Fisheries has developed a policy to enable the continued development of a silver perch industry in WA in an environmentally acceptable manner. The Department of Fisheries Management Paper No. 145 outlines areas within the State where silver perch may or may not be farmed and how silver perch can be sold or imported into WA.
The areas in which silver perch are permitted are determined by the conservation value of drainage basins:
The appropriate temperature for growing this species in aquaculture is 22oC to 28oC (Rowland, 1995c), indicating most areas below the Tropic of Capricorn would be suited to silver perch farming. This coincides with the current distribution of yabbies in Western Australia.
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
Blah blah, I want to catch
Blah blah, I want to catch one! I heard they fight like hell, Ill do my bit for the environment! They cant do any more harm than a bream would, there a threatened species in their natural environment anyhow.
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
Mr x
Posts: 182
Date Joined: 17/03/09
there are that many lakes
there are that many lakes, impounds etc holding perch, australian bass, goldfish, koi carp, ive even seen marron been caught around perth im surprised people dont catch feral fish more often in the swan. bennet brook holds thousands of brasiliensis cichlids which must find their way into the swan somewhere
GlennO87
Posts: 182
Date Joined: 29/01/11
Me and a mate caught a carp
Me and a mate caught a carp about 3 years ago in the swan, 85cm the damn thing was, was a mutant.......Anyway knowing there introduced, we disposed of it....
I love fishing. It`s escaping reality for a few hours for me!
jigsaw
Posts: 154
Date Joined: 30/07/11
good eating
apparently redfin are supposed to be good eating. I've never fished for them but there seem to be plenty about.
Jamos Damokos
Posts: 239
Date Joined: 11/08/11
redfin do taste ok, plain but
redfin do taste ok, plain but ok, have caught them in what you could describe large pond couple hundred k inland/south, very fat fish their main diet was insects, surprisinly they stilll tasted "ok".
Twiddling my thumbs with velvet gloves on.