Aquatic pests
What are aquatic pests?
Aquatic pests are exotic (non-native) species that can damage the natural balance of our environment.
Once transported to a new area, they can spread rapidly. Detection and containment are paramount to limiting the spread.
Aquatic pests can be:
- fish
- aquatic plants
- animals (crabs, molluscs or invertebrates).
They can be found in freshwater, estuaries and marine waters.
South Australia is currently free from most invasive marine pests.
Find out more in the stop aquatic pests harming our environment brochure ().
Why can aquatic pests be a problem?
Aquatic pests pose a risk by:
- competing with native species important to our economy and conservation
- damaging our aquatic environments
- threatening aquaculture and industrial infrastructure
- posing health risks.
What can you do to protect South Australia from aquatic pests?
Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility. You can play an important role in stopping non-native aquatic pests species entering and spreading in South Australia.
Report pests or illegal activity
Immediately report:
- the find of any unusual freshwater or marine organism.
- any unusual or illegal activity involving aquatic pests.
To assist with your report:
- Record your location – screenshot your map app or use photo geotagging.
- Note details
- habitat (harbour, beach, rocky reef)
- date and time
- water depth if the organism was found under water
- the number of suspected marine pests you saw.
- Take photos – take close-up photos from different angles and try to include an object for reference (coin or other available item).
Don’t introduce or spread pests
Protect our environment by:
- following the recommended vessel and equipment cleaning guidelines
- never moving or disposing of of exotic species or aquarium fish into waterways (including translocating from one waterway to another) without a permit
- making sure you have the required permits to stock species in private waterways (e.g. dams).
Identifying pests
View common aquatic pest species on the fishing limits search page.
View additional information about identifying pests on the marine pests website.