Report Sightings Of Redfin Perch In Oberon

[mrmoshe]

Report sightings of redfin perch in Oberon

Members of the community who sight redfin perch in the Oberon area should report it to the Department of Primary Industries 24 hour aquatic pests hotline, following a recent sighting of the freshwater pest in a new area.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Aquatic Biosecurity Officer, Ms Brigid Krug, said Redfin perch were native to northern Europe and were introduced to Australia for angling in the 1860s. They are now widespread in several states, including NSW.

"Redfin perch are aggressive, voracious predators, eating small native fish and the juveniles of large native fish. Redfin also have the potential to degrade recreational fisheries by competing with native species for food and habitat." she said.

DPI will be circulating redfin leaflets to residents in the surrounding area to raise awareness of the pest, and to seek assistance from the community in identifying redfin perch in the Oberon area.

DPI Scientific Officer Jamie Knight said Redfin were also known carriers of a deadly fish virus, Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (EHNV) which can devastate susceptible native fish and trout.

"DPI researchers are carrying out further investigations of the EHNV in collaboration with Sydney University." he said.

NSW DPI is continuing to gather information on the distribution of freshwater native and pest species. NSW DPI, supported by funding from the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority, is also exploring potential control options for redfin, with particular emphasis on redfin populations in areas inhabited by Macquarie perch, a threatened species in NSW.

Once pests become established they can be difficult or impossible to eradicate. There are a number of ways the general public can help protect NSW waterways and stop the spread of pests such as:

* Learn to recognise pest species such as redfin perch

* Don’t transfer fish between waterways or into farm dams

* Don’t use live fin fish as bait in freshwater

* Obtain a permit to stock fish

* Don’t return pest fish to the water

* If you catch a pest fish: kill it humanely and dispose of it appropriately

Please report suspected pest sightings to DPI’s 24 hour aquatic pests hotline on 02 4916 3877. If possible, take a photo and email it to aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.gov.au

For more information contact your local fisheries office or the NSW DPI Aquatic Biosecurity Unit on (02) 4982 1232, or go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries.