Noxious fish list

The fish listed on this page are declared noxious under the Fisheries Management Act 2007. They may not be held or traded in South Australia without specific authorisation.

Report any suspected sightings of these species.

Fish disposal

Noxious fish caught in the wild may be euthanised by a sharp blow to the head.

Noxious aquarium fish may be:

  1. placed in a slurry of cold water and ice until euthanised
  2. frozen in a biodegradable plastic bag
  3. placed in a bin.

Noxious fish list

Aquarium species

  • Acanthogobius flavimanus – Yellow Fin Goby
  • Acestrorhynchus microlepis
  • Acipenser baerii baicalensis – Baikal Sturgeon
  • Acipenser brevirostrum – Shortnose Sturgeon
  • Acipenser dabryanus – Yangtze Sturgeon
  • Acipenser fulvescens – Lake Sturgeon
  • Acipenser gueldenstaedtii – Russian Sturgeon
  • Acipenser medirostris – Green Sturgeon
  • Acipenser mikadoi – Sakhalin Sturgeon
  • Acipenser multiscutatus – Japanese Sturgeon
  • Acipenser naccarii – Adriatic Sturgeon
  • Acipenser nudiventris – Fringebarbel Sturgeon
  • Acipenser oxyrinchus – Atlantic Sturgeon
  • Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi – Gulf Sturgeon
  • Acipenser persicus – Persian Sturgeon
  • Acipenser ruthenus – Sterlet
  • Acipenser schrenckii – Amur Sturgeon
  • Acipenser sinensis – Chinese Sturgeon
  • Acipenser stellatus – Starry Sturgeon
  • Acipenser sturio – European Sturgeon
  • Acipenser transmontanus – White Sturgeon
  • Alfaro amazonus
  • Alfaro cultratus – Knife-Edged Livebearer
  • Alfaro huberi
  • Allomogurnda nesolepis – Yellowbelly Gudgeon
  • Ameiurus brunneus – Snail Bullhead
  • Ameiurus catus – White Catfish
  • Ameiurus melas – Black Bullhead
  • Ameiurus natalis – Yellow Bullhead
  • Ameiurus nebulosus – Brown Bullhead
  • Ameiurus platycephalus – Flat Bullhead
  • Ameiurus serracanthus – Spotted Bullhead
  • Amia calva – Bowfin
  • Anabas cobojius – Gangetic Koi
  • Anabas testudineus – Climbing Perch
  • Anaspidoglanis macrostoma – Flatnose Catfish
  • Apeltes quadracus – Four Spined Stickleback
  • Astyanacinus moorii
  • Astyanax abramis
  • Astyanax aeneus – Banded Tetra
  • Astyanax altiparanae
  • Astyanax angustifrons
  • Astyanax anterior
  • Astyanax aramburui
  • Astyanax argyrimarginatus
  • Astyanax asuncionensis
  • Astyanax atratoensis
  • Astyanax biotae
  • Astyanax bockmanni
  • Astyanax brachypterygium
  • Astyanax caucanus
  • Astyanax chaparae
  • Astyanax cordovae – Mojarra
  • Astyanax correntinus – Mojarra
  • Astyanax daguae
  • Astyanax depressirostris
  • Astyanax eigenmanniorum – Mojarra Piava
  • Astyanax elachylepis
  • Astyanax endy
  • Astyanax erythropterus
  • Astyanax fasciatus – Banded Astyanax
  • Astyanax fasslii
  • Astyanax festae
  • Astyanax filiferus
  • Astyanax gisleni
  • Astyanax goyacensis
  • Astyanax gracilior
  • Astyanax guianensis
  • Astyanax gymnogenys
  • Astyanax henseli
  • Astyanax integer
  • Astyanax ita – Mojarra
  • Astyanax janeiroensis
  • Astyanax kompi
  • Astyanax kullanderi
  • Astyanax lacustris
  • Astyanax laticeps
  • Astyanax lineatus
  • Astyanax longior – Mojara
  • Astyanax maculisquamis
  • Astyanax marionae – Lambari
  • Astyanax maximus
  • Astyanax megaspilura
  • Astyanax microlepis
  • Astyanax microschemos
  • Astyanax mutator
  • Astyanax myersi
  • Astyanax nasutus
  • Astyanax nicaraguensis
  • Astyanax ojiara
  • Astyanax orbignyanus
  • Astyanax orthodus
  • Astyanax paraguayensis
  • Astyanax parahybae
  • Astyanax paranae
  • Astyanax paranahybae
  • Astyanax pedri – Lambari
  • Astyanax pelecus
  • Astyanax poetzschkei
  • Astyanax potaroensis
  • Astyanax pynandi
  • Astyanax ribeirae
  • Astyanax rivularis – Piaba
  • Astyanax ruberrimus
  • Astyanax saguazu
  • Astyanax saltor
  • Astyanax scabripinnis – Piaba; Tetra; Mojarra
  • Astyanax scintillans
  • Astyanax stenohalinus
  • Astyanax superbus
  • Astyanax symmetricus
  • Astyanax taeniatus – Piaba-Branca
  • Astyanax trierythropterus
  • Astyanax troya – Mojarra
  • Astyanax tupi
  • Astyanax turmalinensis
  • Astyanax utiariti
  • Astyanax venezuelae
  • Atractosteus sppAmerican, Armoured or Alligator Gars
  • Bagrus ubangensis – Ubangi Shovelnose Catfish
  • Belonesox belizanus – Pike Minnow, Pike Killifish
  • Boulengerella cuvieri – Bicuda; Pirapucu
  • Boulengerella lucius – Golden Pike-Characin; Pirapoco
  • Boulengerella xyrekes – Pirapoco
  • Boulengerochromis microlepis – Giant Cichlid, Yellow Belly Cichlid
  • Catlocarpio siamensis – Giant Barb
  • Centrarchidae — entire family – Banded or Spotted Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill
  • Centropomus sppSnooks
  • Chaca bankanensis – Angler Catfish
  • Chaca burmensis – Burmensis Frogmouth Catfish
  • Chaca chaca – Angler, Frogmouth and Squarehead Catfishes
  • Chaca chaca – Squarehead Catfish
  • Channa sppSnake Head
  • Cirrhinus cirrhosus – Mrigal
  • Clarias sppWalking Catfish
  • Colossoma spp
  • Ctenobrycon hauxwellianus – Mojara; Lambari
  • Ctenobrycon multiradiatus
  • Ctenopharyngodon idella – Grass Carp
  • Ctenopoma argentoventer – Silverbelly Ctenopoma
  • Ctenopoma kingsleyae – Tailspot Ctenopoma
  • Ctenopoma multispine – Manyspined Ctenopoma
  • Ctenopoma muriei – Ocellated Labyrinth Fish
  • Ctenopoma nigropannosum – Twospot Climbing Perch
  • Ctenopoma ocellatum – Eyespot Ctenopoma
  • Ctenopoma weeksii – Mottled Ctenopoma
  • Culaea inconstans
  • Dormitator latifrons – Pacific Fat Sleeper
  • Dormitator lebretonis
  • Dormitator maculatus – Pacific Sleeper
  • Elassoma sppPygmy Sunfish
  • Electrophorus electricus – Electric Eel
  • Eleotris amblyopsis – Large Scaled Spiny Cheek Sleeper
  • Eleotris andamensis
  • Eleotris annobonensis
  • Eleotris aquadulcis – Ramu Freshwater Gudgeon
  • Eleotris balia
  • Eleotris brachyurus
  • Eleotris daganensis
  • Eleotris fasciatus
  • Eleotris feai
  • Eleotris lutea – Lutea Sleeper
  • Eleotris macrocephala
  • Eleotris macrolepis
  • Eleotris mauritianus – Widehead Sleeper
  • Eleotris melanura
  • Eleotris oxycephala
  • Eleotris pellegrini
  • Eleotris perniger – Smallscaled Spinycheek Sleeper
  • Eleotris picta – Spotted Sleeper
  • Eleotris pisonis – Spinycheek Sleeper
  • Eleotris pseudacanthopomus
  • Eleotris sandwicensis – Sandwich Island Sleeper
  • Eleotris senegalensis
  • Eleotris soaresi
  • Eleotris tecta
  • Eleotris tubularis
  • Eleotris vittata
  • Eleotris vomerodentata
  • Erpetoichthys calabaricus – Reedfish
  • Erythrinus sppTrahiras
  • Esox sppPikes
  • Family Citharinidae, entire subfamily Ichthyborinae – African Pike-Characin, Tubenose Poacher, Fin Eater
  • Gibelion catla – Catla
  • Gobiomorphus gobioides – Giant Bully
  • Gobiomorphus huttoni – Redfin Bully
  • Gobiomorus dormitor – Bigmouth Sleeper
  • Gobiomorus maculatus
  • Gymnarchus niloticus – Aba Aba
  • Helicophagus leptorhynchus
  • Helicophagus waandersii
  • Hemichromis fasciatus – Banded Jewelfish
  • Hepsetus odoe – African Pike
  • Heterandria bimaculata – Twospot Livebearer
  • Heteropneustes fossilis – Stinging Catfish
  • Himantura kittipongi
  • Himantura krempfi – Marbled Freshwater Whip Ray
  • Himantura oxyrhyncha – Marbled Whipray
  • Hoplerythrinus spp
  • Hoplias spp
  • Hydrocynus sppPike Characin, Giant Tigerfish
  • Hypophthalmichthys molitrix – Silver Carp
  • Hypophthalmichthys nobilis – Bighead Carp
  • Hypseleotris cyprinoides – Tropical Carp-Gudgeon
  • Hypseleotris tohizonae
  • Ictalurus balsanus – Balsas Catfish
  • Ictalurus dugesii – Lerma Catfish
  • Ictalurus furcatus – Blue Catfish
  • Ictalurus lupus – Headwater Catfish
  • Ictalurus mexicanus – Rio Verde Catfish
  • Ictalurus ochoterenai – Chapala Catfish
  • Ictalurus pricei – Yaqui Catfish
  • Ictalurus punctatus – Channel Catfish
  • Labeo calbasu and L. rohita – Orange Fin Labeo, Rohu
  • Lates microlepis – Forktail Lates
  • Lates niloticus – Nile Perch
  • Lebiasina bimaculata – Twospot Lebiasina
  • Lepidosiren paradoxa – South American Lungfish
  • Lepisosteus sppAmerican, Armoured or Alligator Gars
  • Leptolebias aureoguttatus
  • Leptolebias marmoratus – Marbled Pearlfish
  • Leptolebias minimus – Barred Tail Pearlfish
  • Leptolebias opalescens – Opal Pearlfish
  • Malapterurus sppElectric Catfish
  • Misgurnus anguillicaudatus – Weatherloach
  • Mormyrops anguilloides – Bottlenose, Cornish Jack
  • Neolissochilus hexagonolepis – Copper Mahseer
  • Notropis sppShiners
  • Noturus albater – Ozark Madtom
  • Noturus baileyi – Smoky Madtom
  • Noturus crypticus – Chucky Madtom
  • Noturus elegans – Elegant Madtom
  • Noturus eleutherus – Mountain Madtom
  • Noturus exilis – Slender Madtom
  • Noturus fasciatus – Saddled Madtom
  • Noturus flavater – Checkered Madtom
  • Noturus flavipinnis – Yellowfin Madtom
  • Noturus flavus – Stonecat
  • Noturus funebris – Black Madtom
  • Noturus furiosus – Carolina Madtom
  • Noturus gilberti – Orangefin Madtom
  • Noturus gladiator
  • Noturus gyrinus – Tadpole Madtom
  • Noturus hildebrandi hildebrandi – Least Madtom
  • Noturus hildebrandi lautus
  • Noturus insignis – Margined Madtom
  • Noturus lachneri – Ouachita Madtom
  • Noturus leptacanthus – Speckled Madtom
  • Noturus maydeni – Black River Madtom
  • Noturus miurus – Brindled Madtom
  • Noturus munitus – Frecklebelly Madtom
  • Noturus nocturnus – Freckled Madtom
  • Noturus phaeus – Brown Madtom
  • Noturus placidus – Neosho Madtom
  • Noturus stanauli – Pygmy Madtom
  • Noturus stigmosus – Northern Madtom
  • Noturus taylori – Caddo Madtom
  • Noturus trautmani – Scioto Madtom
  • Oreochromis sppTilapia
  • Oxydoras sppRipsaw Catfish, Black Doras, Black Shielded Catfish
  • Oxyeleotris heterodon – Sentani Gudgeon
  • Oxyeleotris marmorata – Marble Goby
  • Oxyeleotris siamensis
  • Oxyeleotris urophthalmoides
  • Oxyeleotris urophthalmus
  • Pangasianodon hypophthalmus – Sutchi Catfish
  • Pangasius bedado
  • Pangasius bocourti – Basa
  • Pangasius conchophilus
  • Pangasius djambal
  • Pangasius elongatus
  • Pangasius gigas – Mekong Giant Catfish
  • Pangasius humeralis
  • Pangasius kinabatanganensis
  • Pangasius krempfi
  • Pangasius kunyit
  • Pangasius larnaudii – Spot Pangasius
  • Pangasius lithostoma
  • Pangasius macronema
  • Pangasius mahakamensis
  • Pangasius mekongensis
  • Pangasius myanmar
  • Pangasius nasutus
  • Pangasius nieuwenhuisii
  • Pangasius pangasius – Yellowtailed Catfish
  • Pangasius polyuranodon
  • Pangasius rheophilus
  • Pangasius sabahensis
  • Pangasius sanitwongsei – Giant Catfish; Giant Pangasius
  • Pangasius tubbi – Shortbarbel Pangasius
  • Paratrygon aiereba – Discus Ray
  • Paravandellia oxyptera – Parasitic Catfish
  • Phoxinus erythrogaster – Southern Redbelly Dace
  • Polyodon spathula – Mississippi Paddlefish
  • Procambarus clarkii – Red Swamp Crayfish
  • Protopterus aethiopicus – Marbled Lungfish
  • Protopterus amphibius – Gilled Lungfish
  • Protopterus annectens – African Lungfish
  • Protopterus dolloi – Slender Lungfish
  • Psephurus gladius – Chinese Swordfish
  • Pungitius pungitius – Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pygocentrus sppRed Piranha
  • Pylodictis olivaris – Flathead Catfish
  • Sargochromis sppPink, Slender, Greenwoods, Mortimers, Cunean and Green Happy
  • Sarotherodon melanotheron – Blackchin Tilapia
  • Sarotherodon spp
  • Schilbe angolensis
  • Schilbe banguelensis – Golden Barbel
  • Schilbe bocagii
  • Schilbe brevianalis – Butterfish
  • Schilbe congensis
  • Schilbe djemeri
  • Schilbe durinii
  • Schilbe grenfelli
  • Schilbe intermedius – Silver Butter Catfish
  • Schilbe laticeps
  • Schilbe mandibularis
  • Schilbe marmoratus – Shoulderspot Catfish
  • Schilbe micropogon
  • Schilbe moebiusii
  • Schilbe multitaeniatus
  • Schilbe mystus – African Butter Catfish
  • Schilbe mystus – African Butter Catfish
  • Schilbe nyongensis
  • Schilbe tumbanus
  • Schilbe uranoscopus
  • Schilbe yangambianus – Yangambi Butterbarbel
  • Schilbe zairensis
  • Serranochromis spp
  • Serrasalmus sppRedeye Piranha
  • Silurus sppEuropean Catfish, Wels Catfish
  • Tilapia spp.(All except T. buttikoferi)Redbelly Tilapia
  • Tomeurus gracilis
  • Tor sppRiver Carp, Deccan, High Backed, Jungha, Putitor, Thai Mahseer
  • Tridentiger trigonocephalus – Chameleon Goby, Striped Goby
  • Valencia hispanica – Valencia Toothcarp
  • Zacco platypus – Freshwater Minnow

Marine pests

  • Asterias amurensis – Northern Pacific Seastar
  • Balanus improvisus – Barnacle
  • Carcinus maenas – European Green Crab
  • Caulerpa taxifolia – Green Macroalga
  • Charybdis japonica – Lady Crab
  • Codium fragile spp. tomentosoides– Green Macroalga
  • Corbula (Potamocorbula) amurensis – Asian Clam, Brackish-Water Corbula
  • Crepidula fornicata – American Slipper Limpet
  • Didemnum spp. (exotic strains only)Colonial Sea Squirt
  • Ensis directus – Jack-Knife Clam
  • Eriocheir spp.Chinese Mitten Crab
  • Grateloupia turuturu Red Macroalga
  • Hemigrapsus sanguineus – Japanese/Asian Shore Crab
  • Hemigrapsus takanoi/penicillatus – Pacific Crab
  • Maoricolpus roseus – New Zealand Screwshell
  • Marenzelleria sppRed Gilled Mudworm
  • Mnemiopsis leidyi – Comb Jelly
  • Musculista senhousia – Asian Bag Mussel, Asian Date Mussel
  • Mya arenaria – Soft Shell Clam
  • Mytilopsis sallei – Black Striped Mussel
  • Neogobius melanostomus Round Goby
  • Perna perna – Brown Mussel
  • Perna viridis – Asian Green Mussel
  • Rapana venosa (syn Rapana thomasiana)Rapa Whelk
  • Sabella spallanzanii – European Fan Worm
  • Sargassum muticum – Asian Seaweed
  • Siganus rivulatus – Marbled Spinefoot, Rabbit Fish
  • Undaria pinnatifida – Japanese Seaweed
  • Varicorbula gibba – European Clam

Freshwater pests

  • Cyprinus carpio – ‘European’ Carp, Koi Carp
  • Didymosphenia geminata – Didymo
  • Gambusia sppMosquito Fish
  • Perca fluviatilis – Redfin
  • Rutilus rutilus – Roach
  • Phalloceros caudimaculatus – Speckled Livebearer, Speckled Mosquitofish
  • Tinca tinca – Tench

Freshwater crayfish

  • Genus Astacoides
  • Genus Austropotamobius
  • Genus Barbicambarus
  • Genus Bouchardina
  • Genus Cambarellus
  • Genus Cambaroides
  • Genus Cambarus
  • Genus Cherax (New Guinea spp. only)
  • Cherax quadricarinatus – Redclaw
  • Genus Distocambarus
  • Genus Fallicambarus
  • Genus Faxonella
  • Genus Hobbseus
  • Genus Orconectes
  • Genus Pacifastacus
  • Genus Paranephrops
  • Genus Parastacus
  • Genus Procambarus
  • Genus Samastacus
  • Genus Troglocambarus
  • Genus Virilastacus
  • Genus Virilastacus

Report suspected exotic species

Early detection is important to stop the establishment and spread of aquatic pests. If you see an unusual freshwater or marine creature, report it immediately.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Fishwatch hotline: 1800 065 522 SA Fishing app
Page last reviewed: 25 Oct 2022

 


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