GOVERNMENT SHIRKS PEST FISH TRANSLOCATION ISSUE

 

Whether it is the Queensland State Government, SunWater, or Tarong Energy, individually or collectively, these organizations are not accepting their environmental responsibility, in regards to the translocation of exotic pest fishes. If they are recognizing the problem, they are dammed slow in doing anything constructive about it.

Back in May 2000, (over 18 months ago) tilapia were discovered in Boondooma Dam. How they got there is not known. The infestation in Boondooma Dam is bad enough, but there is now a very high potential possibility that tilapia could be translocated, (although unintentionally), from the Boyne catchment into the Barker catchment of the Burnett river system. Water is pumped through a pipeline from Boondooma Dam (Boyne catchment), to the Tarong Power Station (Barker catchment). Once being used operationally in the power station, Tarong Energy has EPA approval to discharge surplus water requirements into the Barker creek system. It is feared that tilapia or their eggs, will travel through both the pipeline and the power station, and enter the Barker catchment. If this happens, then there will be two disasters instead of one. However, the fact is, that one can or could have been prevented.

As previously mentioned, some 18 months have now passed, and very little, if anything, has been put in place to prevent any translocation. Yes, there has been a Risk Assessment and Management Strategy produced, some monitoring undertaken, and plenty of bureaucratic waffling , but nothing of consequence, or of a practical nature, to prevent any spread of this infestation.

Under the Fisheries Act 1994, it is an offence to "release noxious fish resources, or cause noxious fish resources to be placed or released into Queensland waters". Any person committing this offence, is liable for prosecution, and for all costs incurred to remove or destroy such noxious fish species. It could be considered that a "release or cause to be placed", of a noxious specie via a water pipeline, or similar device, is no different to a person tipping a bucket of tilapia directly into a waterway. This is particularly so, once the contamination has been identified and confirmed, and the operators are aware of the risk of any such potential "release".

It is clear that the "Government" has a real obligation to do all in it's power to prevent this type of translocation. But yet, nothing practical in any way has been implemented. The Queensland Government needs to sort out immediately, whose responsibility it is, (SunWater or Tarong Energy), and to ensure that adequate preventative measures are installed as a matter of urgency. The time for bureaucratic buck passing has well and truly passed. Every day that goes by, the risk of translocation escalates markedly. Since first being identified in Boondooma Dam, monitoring has indicated that tilapia numbers have increased significantly. This in itself, increases the possibility of transfer.

The impact that tilapia will have on the recreational freshwater resource in Boondooma Dam has not been scientifically established. However, it is accepted by most that the impact will be devastating. Once tilapia become established, and most likely become the dominant specie , bait fishing for other recognized and sought after native fish, will become increasingly frustrating. Any bait presented will be ravenously consumed by tilapia.

It is not only the recreational fisher who will be affected. The commercial aspect of recreational fishing will be similarly impacted. The freshwater guiding industry will not be able to satisfy clients, (recreational fishers), because of ongoing pestering by ravenous tilapia. Business will deteriorate. Commercial fish hatcheries, (where all fingerlings for stocking are obtained), will have no option but to install their own barriers. Most hatcheries source their water supplies from impoundments, or downstream flows. Once these waters become infested with noxious species, hatcheries will have to either install filters or close down. Most will close because of the expense. As fingerlings produced by hatcheries are distributed far and wide, the use of contaminated water is not an option. The hatcheries could just as easily translocate noxious fish in exactly the same way as with the Boondooma pipeline.

North Queensland has a similar concern with the Barron- Mitchell irrigation channel system. Tilapia have become established in Tinaroo Dam on the Barron river which flows eastward. It is now some four years since first observed in Tinaroo. The Mitchell river of course, flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria, and if contaminated by tilapia, has the potential to infest the entire Gulf system from Bamaga to Burketown. This would be a catastrophe, not only for recreational fishing in the Gulf, but also the commercial sector as well. It is a miracle that tilapia have not yet found their way into the Gulf. As mentioned, years have lapsed with no real attempt to curtail the likely transfer.

It is fine for the Queensland Government to have produced an operation strategy for the control of exotic pest species (for which they are to be applauded). However, in the real and practical world, strategies are quite useless, if preventative methods are not implemented as soon as possible after the outbreak is first recorded. It is ludicrous that years go by, and there is still no action to curb the transfer of infestations. The Government must accept it's responsibility and implement immediate action to ensure that all exotic pest fish infestations are adequately controlled.

As I write, a European Carp has now reportedly been captured by an angler in Moogerah Dam. How long will it be, before the Government enacts it's own legislation to prevent another recreational freshwater fishery from likely destruction ?.

A further question needs to be asked. Why does the eradication of pest fire ants be allocated $200M immediately by Government, while pest noxious fish eradication is allocated zero with no emergency ?.

Late Press: At the recent annual fishing competition held at Boondooma Dam, there were 279 tilapia caught. Twelve months ago there were none. This year, the catch of tilapia was more than half of the total catch of the competition. What a disaster, and the Government is doing nothing about it.

Les Kowitz
President,
Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland Inc.