National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group

Communique #3 - November 2010

The National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group (OFMIG) was established in 2007 to work to implement seven key recommendations identified through the National Strategy; ‘A Strategic Approach to the Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia’. This report was developed by the Australian, State and Territory governments, in collaboration with representatives from the ornamental fish industry and hobby groups, including the Pet Industry Association of Australia.

OFMIG developed an Implementation Plan in 2008 to address the actions required to implement the seven key recommendations. Currently, the Implementation Plan focuses on two key outcomes:

1. Review the status of ‘grey list’ species (species requiring further scientific/technical consideration and risk assessment), and
2. Maintain a Scientific/Technical Working Group to assess fish on the ‘grey list’.
   The 778 ‘grey list’ species, identified in the National Strategy, have recently undergone a rapid risk assessment. This initial assessment aimed to gather information on each species and determine whether they were of low, moderate or high risk to Australia’s environment.
   High and moderate risk species are then reviewed by a Technical Working Group to gather as much information as possible about the species and to determine if they are of interest to industry and hobbyists.

The Process:

Step 1: If a species is determined to be of high risk to Australia’s environment and of no interest to industry and hobbyists by the Technical Working Group, then it is added to a list that is put out for public consultation. Public consultation is undertaken in each jurisdiction by the relevant government agency. If through this consultation the species are confirmed to not be of interest, they are then proposed for addition to the National Noxious List.

Species proposed to be added to the National Noxious Fish List then go to the Marine and Coastal Committee and Natural Resource Management Standing Committee for final endorsement before being added officially to the National Noxious Fish List.

The lists of species being assessed for addition to the National Noxious List are referred to as tranches. OFMIG has consulted on two tranches that have been endorsed and added to the National Noxious Fish List. OFMIG will soon be publicly consulting on a 3rd tranche.

Step 2: Species that are identified as being of interest by the Technical Working Group will undergo further review. Species that are identified during public consultation as being of interest to industry will also be reviewed further.

The tool for further review of these species will be a rigorous assessment and is currently being developed by the Aquatic Sciences division of the South Australian Research and Development Institute.

Current activities in your state or territory

Although OFMIG works through a National Strategy, the implementation of the recommendations and actions must be carried out by each state and territory. This means that the most relevant point of call for activities affecting you in your area is your state or territory Department.
The activities currently happening in each state and territory:

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory legislated tranche 1 in March 2009. Currently the Fisheries Division are incorporating the second tranche of noxious fish into the Northern Territory Fisheries Regulations.

Queensland

Queensland has initiated the process to incorporate the second tranche National Noxious Fish List in to the State Noxious Fish list under the Fisheries Regulation 2008. This process requires Regulatory Assessment Statement (RAS) exemption as State-wide consultation on the second list has been completed last year. Fisheries Queensland is in the process of obtaining RAS exemption.

Secondly a consultation plan is being put together for the third tranche noxious fish list. It is likely that the consultation on the third tranche noxious fish list will be completed late this or early next calendar year.

New South Wales

Tranche 1 was proclaimed in NSW legislation 1 April 2010. A six month advisory period was implemented after proclamation, and this is now complete. Compliance with the additions to the NSW Noxious Fish List is required from 1 October 2010.

Victoria

Recent Victorian actions include an update of the Victorian Noxious Aquatic Species (NAS) list to include the second tranche of the national noxious list, the re-establishment of an ornamental sector consultative committee titled Aquarists Victoria, and the development of a draft consultation plan to ensure excellent communication between government and the ornamental fish sector.

Tasmania

Tranche 1 species were listed under the Inland Fisheries (Controlled Fish) Order 2007 – Schedule 1 in early 2008. Informal consultation has taken place with hobbyists, a select number of ornamental fish dealers (aquarium store owners) and commercial breeders with no issues in regards to the national noxious listings. The second tranche will be listed during the next six months after internal discussions within the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment take place on the best approach to listing given that some fish in this tranche are present in Tasmanian waterways.

South Australia

South Australia has recently updated their Noxious List to reflect the 2nd tranche of species reviewed by OFMIG being added to the National Noxious List.

A registration system for ornamental fish traders is being finalised, which aims to increase communication with aquarium and retail stores, particularly in the prevention of, or during an emergency response to pests and diseases.