Sinister truth behind 678kg fishing haul from Aussie river: 'Massive problem'
Invasive fish species are taking over Aussie rivers with 'devastating' repercussions.
Fishing is a popular pastime across Australia and a big pile of fish is usually the cause for celebration and a big feast. But a photo of a pile of fish caught by anglers on the Gold Coast holds a sinister truth — the species caught are causing "significant" problems in rivers across the country.
A whopping 678.49kg of Tilapia, European Carp and goldfish were removed from the Robina waterways on the Gold Coast. Since its inception in 2016, the Gold Coast Pest Fish Classic which is run jointly between council and My Catch Australia, has caught and removed over 4,682 kilograms of pest fish.
"We know in South East Queensland, tilapia and carp are significant problems for the environment," Invasive Species Council acting CEO Jack Gough told Yahoo News Australia. "In freshwater environments, the next candidate in our ecosystem for extinctions we'll be seeing."
Big problem with invasive species tilapia
Tilapia were introduced to Australia in the 1970s and are now officially considered an invasive species. They are native to Africa, South and Central America, Southern India and Sri Lanka.
The reason they pose a significant threat to native fish species and aquatic habitats is not only because they compete for resources with native fish, but the manner in which they reproduce. Females carry their eggs and small fry in their mouths, and these can survive for a long time after the adult dies.
Biosecurity Queensland has previously said that while it is encouraged for anglers to target tilapia, once caught they must be either buried above the high-water mark of the place of capture or placed in a nearby bin.
Under no circumstances can fishers take tilapia to eat, use it as bait or return it to the water either dead or alive in a bid to remove any value associated with the fish and reduce the incentive of the spread.
Tilapia and carp also increase turbidity in Australian water systems which means that they make the water cloudier and murkier.
"We know that an increase in turbidity can erode banks," Gough told Yahoo. "They are a massive problem in terms of competing with our native fish and a huge risk for tilapia to move into NSW.
"It's a big problem," he said.
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Gold Coast Mayor praised the efforts of anglers
City of Gold Coast's mayor Tom Tate praised the efforts of the anglers who came out in droves to help catch the fish. "Pest fish like the Tilapia can have a devastating effect on our waterways and we are committed to helping manage this and other pest fish species," Mayor Tate said.
"The pest fish classic brings the community together and raises awareness of the destruction these fish can cause, which includes outcompeting native fish for resources.
In the past, fish caught in the classic were sent to landfill, but this year all 678.49kg will be composted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and eventually used as soil.
In a bid to improve fish stocks, council will release 36,000 Australian bass fingerlings into Robina Lakes as part of council's "commitment to improve fish stocks due to the impact of pest species.”
Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic by the numbers
🎣 699 anglers registered for the event
🐟 678.49kgs of invasive fish including tilapia, goldfish and carp were removed from waterways
🚤 Total caught since 2016 is 4,682.91kgs
Plan to infect millions of 'feral fish' with herpes virus
Yahoo previously reported that the government are investigating ways to fight the invasive carp as part of the National Carp Plan, which includes releasing a herpes virus into river systems.
"That's not a silver bullet, but it will allow much greater control," Gough told Yahoo, adding there's not a good solution to the issue of carp. Unfortunately, the numbers, the way that they breed, means it's very difficult to control their numbers. But there are still options if there's investment from a government in restricting the spread of tilapia,
However some local business owners are concerned doing so will harm an already struggling tourism industry. Tracy Hill from Coorong Wild Seafood, southeast of Adelaide, previously told Yahoo the intended deaths of millions of feral fish could create “a big, stinky rotten carp soup” in waterways, potentially devastating local businesses.
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