27.09.2018 Views

freshwater-recreational-fishing-guide-2018-19

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

57 ■■<br />

Report suspected pests and unexplained<br />

mortality events in fish and shellfish.<br />

Contact your local fisheries office or contact<br />

NSW DPI on 02 4916 3877 (recorded 24<br />

hour service); email aquatic.pests@dpi.nsw.<br />

gov.au or online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/<br />

biosecurity.<br />

■■<br />

If you are able to keep samples, keep them<br />

cool but do not freeze them.<br />

NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide Pests and diseases<br />

Carp (European Carp)<br />

European Carp are a large <strong>freshwater</strong> fish<br />

native to central Asia. Introductions in many<br />

countries have helped make European Carp<br />

the most widely distributed <strong>freshwater</strong> fish<br />

in the world. They are extensively farmed in<br />

Europe, Asia and the Middle East and are a<br />

popular angling fish in Europe. European Carp<br />

are very versatile and can live in a great variety<br />

of habitats including highly degraded waters.<br />

Over the past 30 years Carp have spread<br />

across most of south-eastern Australia and<br />

are now the most abundant <strong>freshwater</strong><br />

fish in some areas, including most of the<br />

Murray-Darling Basin and are thought to have<br />

contributed to the degradation of our natural<br />

aquatic ecosystems. Carp are a popular sport<br />

species in Europe, however as they are a pest<br />

in NSW <strong>recreational</strong> fishers are encouraged<br />

to retain and utilise landed Carp rather than<br />

return them live to the water. Fish retained<br />

should be dispatched humanely.<br />

Redfin (English Perch)<br />

Redfin Perch is a medium sized <strong>freshwater</strong><br />

fish native to northern Europe which was<br />

introduced to Australia in the 1860s for its<br />

angling qualities and is now widespread<br />

across much of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania,<br />

south-eastern South Australia and the southwestern<br />

corner of Western Australia. They can<br />

be identified by their bright red lower fins and<br />

tail. Redfin are voracious predators of native<br />

fish and invertebrates and can adversely affect<br />

native species such as Macquarie Perch by<br />

carrying Epizootic Haematopoetic Necrosis<br />

(EHN) virus. Redfin can also out-compete other<br />

species in enclosed water bodies. Redfin are<br />

a notifiable species and it is illegal to be in<br />

possession of live Redfin in NSW. If anglers<br />

are retaining caught Redfin the fish must be<br />

stored dead (e.g. on ice in an esky). It is also<br />

illegal to use live or dead Redfin as bait in NSW.<br />

The latest disease to infect Australian<br />

seafood is white spot disease of Prawns, also<br />

known as infection with White Spot Syndrome<br />

Virus (WSSV). WSSV is a highly contagious viral<br />

disease of prawns that causes high rates of<br />

mortality in affected stock. Other crustaceans<br />

can be carriers of the virus, but are rarely<br />

impacted by the disease. Freezing prawns<br />

does not kill the virus, however cooking<br />

prawns does. WSSV poses no threat to human<br />

health or food safety. This disease has been<br />

detected in some imported uncooked product.<br />

Prawns purchased from supermarkets or food<br />

outlets could spread WSSV. Fishers are being<br />

encouraged to play a role to ensure NSW<br />

remains free of White Spot.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!