Help tackle one of the world’s worst pest fish
25 August 2020
Tweed anglers asked to report their tilapia sightings
Tweed residents and anglers are being called upon to provide ‘local intelligence’ to limit the spread of one of the world’s worst pest fish – tilapia - in Tweed Coast waterways.
A public awareness campaign, supported by Tweed Shire Council and fishing conservation charity OzFish Unlimited, is being promoted to monitor tilapia populations, particularly in Cudgen Lake and Bogangar Canal.
The fish was first confirmed there in 2014 and is the only known Mozambique tilapia population in NSW.
Tilapia was introduced into Australia as an ornamental fish in the 1970s and can tolerate a wide range of habitats, including fresh and brackish water.
Due to their aggressive nature, especially when breeding, tilapia impacts on native species, reducing their numbers, damaging native habitats and affecting water quality.
Matthew Bloor, Council Project Officer - Waterways, said once populations are established, it is virtually impossible to eradicate tilapia from natural waterways.
He said the campaign will help identify tilapia hotspots and build an understanding of impacts on native fish habitat.
“By relying on local reporting, we will be able to track where sightings and catches are made and create a map which will help to target tilapia hotspots in the future,” he said.
He said the community can play a vital role in stopping the spread by reporting sightings and taking clear photos of fish and the locations where they are seen.
“Fishing for tilapia is another way to help keep local numbers down but it is important recreational anglers do not help spread tilapia between waterways,” he said.
“Don’t use tilapia as bait (dead or alive) as even dead adults may be carrying viable eggs or larvae in their mouth. It is illegal to return any recreationally caught tilapia to the water.”
He said if caught, they must be humanely dispatched or disposed of in a bin going to landfill.
The community can play a vital role in stopping the spread of tilapia by reporting sightings to the NSW DPI Fisheries hotline,1800 675 888 or email and send good quality photos to aquatic.biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au
When COVID-19 restrictions allow, recreational anglers and fishing clubs will have the opportunity to join tilapia buster workshops and events being planned with NSW DPI Fisheries and OzFish Unlimited, a non-profit organisation focused on protecting fish habitats for recreational fishers.
More information is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic/freshwater-pests/species/tilapia
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Caption: Anglers of all ages are being encourage to record their catches of tilapia in Tweed Waterways as part of a public awareness campaign to monitor the spread of the pest fish. Photo: Conservation Volunteers Australia.