Exotic pests’ threat to native wildlife under spotlight

Media Release
11 April 2011

Freshwater exotic pests that prey on native wildlife will be under the spotlight at three forums being held across the state from today.

Biosecurity SA staff will deliver information sessions on a range of issues covering freshwater exotic animal pests, pest weeds and fish species at the forums being held from 11-13 April at Gawler, West Beach and Loxton.

“Biosecurity SA has targeted frontline state and local government officers and community groups who are involved in pest management, local water monitoring or activities involving management of aquatic areas,” Biosecurity SA’s executive director, Will Zacharin said.

“Early detection and rapid response is critical in successfully eradicating new pest populations. These sessions will help improve the ability of people to identify and better understand the risks from pests which are continuing to expand their presence, or are yet to become established here.”

Mr Zacharin said freshwater ecosystems were highly vulnerable to invasion by exotic animal pests or weeds. Their impact could be significant when the invaders preyed on native animals or competed with native species for food, destroyed native plants, or degraded natural environments.

“One of the biggest problems we are facing is the accidental or deliberate release of exotic fish into our waterways,” he said. “At least 34 species of exotic fish have now become established in Australia.

“One example of a new species threatening our state for the first time is the Oriental Weatherloach. This was initially an aquarium species which was released or escaped into waterways in the Australian Capital Territory.

“Since then it’s become established in New South Wales and Victoria and recently was trapped in the Chowilla floodplains in South Australia. It poses a threat to native freshwater fish and to the natural habitat along the Murray.”

A response team has been established to oversee eradication and management strategies against this new aquatic threat.

Another species on ‘red alert’ is the red-eared slider turtle, which is classed as one of the world’s most invasive species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

“These turtles are native to North America but have become a pest in many countries around the world including parts of Australia,” Mr Zacharin said.

“Its credentials as an environmental pest are irrefutable; it competes with native turtles for food, nesting areas and basking sites. In England, introduced sliders have damaged water birds’ nests and they also eat small, live hatchling birds.”

“The keeping, release from captivity, movement or the sale of the red-eared slider turtle in the pet trade is prohibited around Australia, but that has not stopped small, localised populations being found in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

“Fortunately these turtles have not been found in the wild in South Australia. We want to keep it that way and hope these sessions will improve our ability to detect any new populations and respond before they establish.”