Exotic pest fish - home page | Common Q&A | Noxious fish | Non-indigenous fish | Education & publications

Exotic pest fish - commonly asked questions and answers

On this page:

• What are noxious and non-indigenous fish?
• How do I identify noxious and non-indigenous fish?
• What do I do if I catch a noxious fish?
• Can I use these fish as bait?
• Can I keep noxious and non-indigenous fish in dams and aquariums?
• What do I do if I see noxious or non-indigenous fish in a river or other waterway?
• What else is the DPI&F doing to reduce numbers of noxious and non-indigenous fish?
• Further information and suggested further reading

What are noxious and non-indigenous fish?

Noxious - Tilapia mariae

Non-indigenous fish are fish that are not native to an area.  For example, aquarium fish which have been illegally dumped into our waterways are nonindigenous.  Platies, goldfish, swordtails and guppies are nonindigenous fish which have established in many waterways in Queensland. 

Noxious fish are those that have been deemed harmful or produces conditions that are harmful to fisheries resources or habitat.  There are 18 species, genera or families of fish that are declared noxious fish in Queensland.  Three of these (carp, tilapia and gambusia) have established and become a significant pest.

How do I identify noxious and non-indigenous fish?

DPI&F produces brochures and posters which will help you identify noxious and non indigenous fish.  Contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for a copy of this material.

The DPI&F Shop also has some publications with colour photos of noxious fish.  Aquarium books have pictures on non-indigenous fish.

What do I do if I catch a tilapia or carp?

If you catch a noxious fish, kill the fish as quickly and humanely as possible. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries advocates following ethical euthanasia protocols recommended by the 2001 ANZCCART publication – Euthanasia of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes. The most appropriate method may involve stunning the fish via a sharp blow to the back of the head followed by brain destruction. It is an offence to have noxious fish (such as carp and tilapia) in your possession, dead or alive (except dead Nile perch). You must therefore dispose of the fish as soon as practicable after killing. It is recommended that you do this by burying it a suitable distance from the waterway where it was caught or disposing it in a rubbish bin.

Can I use these fish as bait?

No. All noxious and non-indigenous fish must not be returned to the water whether they are dead or alive.  

Did you know that a female tilapia incubates the fertilised eggs in her mouth and the newly hatched fry continue to grow there for another 10 to 14 days until they are released into the water? Juveniles may also live for a considerable time in the female's mouth even if she dies.

Can I keep noxious and non-indigenous fish in dams and aquariums?

Koi carp are illegal in Queensland

No.   Some species of non-indigenous fish are able to be kept in privately owned aquariums and ponds provided that they cannot escape into any other waterways (eg they cannot be kept in a dam if it may overflow into a river, creek etc during a flood).  See prescribed list of non-indigenous fish which you are able to keep without a permit.

Noxious fish must not be used to stock dams or keep in aquariums.  Penalties of up to $200 000 apply.

What do I do if I see noxious or non-indigenous fish in a river or other waterway?

DPI&F has a register for people to report information on these fish. This information helps DPI&F determine how widely spread the fish are and assists in planning for control measures.

To report sightings of noxious or introduced fish in Queensland's waterways, please call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.

You will then be asked a series of questions about the sighting including:

• the type of fish and how it was identified (eg particular markings, museum identification etc);
• the number of fish (eg one, a few or many);
• how long these fish have been there (if known); and
• the location of the fish

What is the DPI&F doing to reduce numbers of noxious and non-indigenous fish?

DPI&F is currently investigating the effectiveness of a number of different methods for controlling noxious and non-indigenous fish, without impacting on the native fish stocks.

These methods include:

• restoring native fish habitats (in conjunction with a number of community groups);
• physically removing noxious and introduced species (such as line fishing and selective netting);
• using chemicals that kill fish (piscicides) that will break down rapidly; and
• investigating methods to decrease the numbers of young being produced (eg disturbances to breeding behaviour, the use of hormones and genetic manipulation).

Further information and suggested further reading

Department of Primary Industries, Queensland (1997). Fish Guide - Saltwater, Freshwater and Noxious Species. The Great Outdoors Publications, Australia. 136pp.

Department of Primary Industries, Queensland (1998). Queensland's Freshwater Fish 1 & 2: Posters. DPI, Edfish.

Fisheries Act 1994 and Fisheries Regulation 2008.

Copies of legislation can be downloaded directly at the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Council website.

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Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.

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Last updated 6 February 2009