Pest fish spotted in creek may threaten Murray Darling biosecurity
An invasive fish species that poses a major threat to Australia’s native biodiversity may have escaped into the Murray Darling Basin.
Biosecurity Queensland is investigating reports the ornamental fish, called tilapia, have been spotted in Cooby Creek, north of Toowoomba.
The waterway flows into the Murray Darling Basin and if the sighting is confirmed would be the first time tilapia have been found in the catchment.
Photographs of the suspect fish were provided to Biosecurity Queensland on 24 March but were inconclusive.
Biosecurity officers will undertake environmental DNA sampling to identify the fish.
The Murray–Darling Basin encompasses most of New South Wales, southern Queensland, the east of South Australia, northern Victoria and all of the Australian Capital Territory.
It is home to 16 internationally significant wetlands, 35 endangered species and 120 different species of waterbirds.
If tilapia becomes established in the Murray Darling, it could significantly impact native species and reduce water quality.
While poisons can eradicate the fish in contained waterways, such as ponds and small dams, there is no effective control method for tilapia in open waterways.
Tilapia were introduced into Australia in the 1970s as ornamental fish, are prolific breeders, can grow to more than 30cm in length and live for more than a decade.
