freshwater-recreational-fishing-guide-2018-19

59 You can help prevent further spread by:
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Cleaning boats, trailers and all equipment
before leaving the site.
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Learning to recognise water weeds.
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Avoiding infested areas.
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Reporting suspicious infestations
to your local council weed officer or
NSW DPI on 1800 680 244 or email
weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide Pests and diseases
Didymo
Didymo is a highly invasive freshwater algae,
commonly known as ‘rock snot’. Fortunately
Didymo is not found in Australia but in 2004
it was discovered on the south island of
New Zealand. It can be spread very easily and
by just one drop of affected water. Didymo
forms dense brown clumps and smothers
stream beds by attaching to rocks and plants.
It can attach to clothing of fishers, to fishing
gear or boating equipment and can then
spread between waterways. Eradication
is virtually impossible once it has become
established. Fishers are at risk of accidentally
introducing Didymo into NSW waters by using
contaminated fishing gear and equipment.
What you can do:
■■
Check, clean and dry fishing gear and
equipment if you have been fishing in an
area known to contain Didymo before
bringing your gear home. This can be done
by soaking gear in a hot water solution of
five per cent household bleach. Alternately
soak gear in washing detergent for
45 minutes.
■■
Declare all used freshwater fishing
equipment (including fishing rods, lines,
lures, waders, wading boots and felt-soled
shoes) and recreational water equipment
(including for kayaking and canoeing) that
have been used in freshwater areas of New
Zealand and other countries known to
have Didymo algae on arrival in Australia
to the Australian Quarantine Inspection
Service (AQIS) for inspection and treatment
for Didymo algae where necessary.
Call Department of Agriculture and Water
Resources on 1800 020 505 or refer to
Department of Agriculture and Water
Resources website www.agriculture.gov.au/
biosecurity for more information.