Peacock Bass In Pioneer River

[rayke1938]

Hope it was only the one.

 Cheers

Ray

South American predator fish caught in Qld

A predatory fish from South America has been caught in a Queensland river amidst fears it could wipe out native species.

Christine Flatley

Australian Associated PressJanuary 17, 20181:58pm

Central Queensland anglers say the release of a highly predatory fish from South America that could wipe out local species in just two years is an "act of environmental bastardry".

Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association (MAFSA) founding chairman Keith Day says the Peacock Bass, which was caught at the Dumbleton Weir in Mackay's Pioneer River on Monday, was almost certainly deliberately released from a private aquarium.

Mr Day says unless urgent action is taken, it could decimate the 2.5 million barramundi and sooty grunter MAFSA had cultivated in the river over the past 25 years.

"I can just see everything that we have worked for going down the gurgler," he told AAP on Wednesday.

"Why anybody would think it was a good idea is beyond me - it's an act of environmental bastardry."

The fish - which are popular pets in Australia and can be bought through online classifieds website Gumtree for as little as $20 each - are "bucket-list" catches for many recreational anglers.

They have already caused rapid devastation in areas of Brazil where they have been introduced.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries said in a statement the discovery was the "first confirmed capture of this species in Queensland waters" and has advised anglers to humanely kill the fish instead of releasing it.

Catchment Solutions fisheries biologist Matt Moore said authorities needed to act immediately to contain what was a potential environmental disaster.

"They are a high order apex predator - they will eat anything they can fit in their mouth," he said.

"This has the potential to affect commercial, recreational and indigenous fish stock."

He said it was vital to investigate how many of the fish were in the river and where.

"We then need to eradicate them as quickly as possible," he said.

He said electrofishing - where fish are stunned with an electric shock, then netted and sorted so pests can be killed and indigenous fish released - was one possible method.

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[Drop Bear]

1 hour ago, rayke1938 said:

He said electrofishing - where fish are stunned with an electric shock, then netted and sorted so pests can be killed and indigenous fish released - was one possible method.

wow there are some stupid and selfish people. 

[kmcrosby78]

Perhaps biosecurity need to disallow/ban any species of fish in Australia as pets if they pose a danger to our native flora/fauna and are capable of surviving in the wild if released (ie. if they could adapt to our water/conditions)?

[aussie123]

26 minutes ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Perhaps biosecurity need to disallow/ban any species of fish in Australia as pets if they are capable of surviving in the wild if released (ie. if they could adapt to our water/conditions)?

That is impossible as there is millions of aquarium fish in this country.

Also if they did that, the same would need to happen to all dogs, cats and many other exotic animals which all pose a threat somewhere of some kind.

[kmcrosby78]

True Lance - I guess you can't always legislate against idiots.

[Nog]

Trout

[fishingnut]

Never caught one nog but I would kill everyone I caught 

[Drop Bear]

18 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Perhaps biosecurity need to disallow/ban any species of fish in Australia as pets if they are capable of surviving in the wild if released (ie. if they could adapt to our water/conditions)?

While that would upset a lot of people I agree. I feel we should do this with all pet type animals too. Cats, Dogs, Rabbits etc. There are quite a few native animals that make pretty good pets. 

[Drop Bear]

18 hours ago, aussie123 said:

That is impossible as there is millions of aquarium fish in this country.

Also if they did that, the same would need to happen to all dogs, cats and many other exotic animals which all pose a threat somewhere of some kind.

I'm sure you are right. The fox is out of the basket so to speak. A boy can dream though... haha. 

[Drop Bear]

7 hours ago, Nog said:

Trout

Well said.

[Drop Bear]

2 hours ago, fishingnut said:

Never caught one nog but I would kill everyone I caught 

yep me to. bleed and put on ice then slow roast over the fire. hmmmmm

[kmcrosby78]

11 hours ago, Nog said:

Trout

Edited my statement