Threat From Mutated Exotic Fish

[mrmoshe]

A MUTATED species of exotic fish known as the "cane toad of the waterways" could devastate Perth's iconic Swan River if allowed to spread unchecked.

West Australian Fisheries Minister Jon Ford said the fish, thought to be of the Cichlid family, had been found at Bennett Brook near Guildford, in Perth's east.

"This species of fish has been described as the cane toad of the waterways and has the potential to wreak havoc on our native fish populations and rivers," Mr Ford said.

"In other states, species from the Cichlid family like the tilapia, as well as introduced carp in the Murray-Darling river system, have devastated waterways to the point that native species may never recover."

Fisheries scientists are working around the clock to identify and contain the fish, he said.

Once the identity of the fish is known the department will be better positioned to predict the impacts the fish may have on Perth's waterways, he said.

Cichlids are popular aquarium fish in Western Australia, but like all feral or exotic species should never be released into waterways as they may devastate delicate aquatic ecosystems, he added.

"We may never establish how these fish entered our waterways but I urge the public to take extreme care when disposing of any exotic fish," Mr Ford said.

"This should serve as a serious wake-up call to all of us that we must never, ever flush fish down the toilet or release them into our waterways and rivers."

Edited May 23, 2006 by MallacootaPete