Project 9.D.5 Invasive fish scoping
study
Information on the current and
emerging threats posed by invasive pest fish to agriculture and the
environment is currently unclear. There are many species that have
been identified as having a negative impact. Many more species are
emerging as pests, or may pose a threat as climate conditions
change. This project aimed to scope current methods, research and
management programs involved in monitoring and reporting on
invasive fish and their impacts. It was jointly funded by the IA
CRC and the National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA).
The national Vertebrate Pests
Committee (VPC) has recently become responsible for providing
coordinated policy and planning solutions for exotic fish. The
NLWRA is currently developing various indicators and standards for
monitoring resource condition, under the National Monitoring and
Evaluation Framework. The VPC has recommended that fish be included
in the invasive species policy, and the NLWRA agreed to produce a
scoping study to identify issues and recommendations for monitoring
and measurement procedures for fish distribution, abundance and
impacts. The report Review of
alien fish monitoring techniques (see
‘Documents’) presents results from this scoping
study.
It is essential to identify
whether the recommended monitoring, evaluation and reporting
protocol for introduced vertebrate pests (terrestrial) can be
directly applied to exotic fish, to address the huge environmental
problems stemming from invasive fish in Australia today.
This project has:
- summarised and reviewed techniques available for measuring and
monitoring pest fish distribution, abundance and impacts
- prepared recommendations for the NLWRA regarding fish
monitoring and reporting at state and national levels under the
National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
- outlined current research programs and management activities
that measure and report fish information, particularly impacts
information.
