No more alligator gar and some other cool fish.

[HorrorShowRot]

Daniel Hurst
June 24, 2009 - 4:59PM
Exotic fish enthusiasts beware - the Queensland Government is about to quadruple the number of banned species.

Electric eels, piranhas and walking catfish are among 18 species already on the state's noxious fish blacklist, but this list will expand to more than 70 on August 1.

The move will force the owners of breeds such as the Chinese swordfish, stinging catfish, pygmy sunfish and aba aba to apply for a permit to avoid a maximum $200,000 fine.

Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries biologist Dan Willett said the state was home to some "die-hard hobbyists" who collected rare and strange fish types from around the world, but authorities had been forced to increase the number of blacklisted fish to keep in line with a national strategy.

"They're banned because of the potential damage they could do to our environment if they were to be let loose," Mr Willett told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"They would displace our native fish by competing for food and habitat space and may spread disease as well."

He said the exotic fish, sourced from Africa, Asia and the Americas, were suited to freshwater but some of them tolerated salt water.

They were unlikely to have been purchased in a regular pet shop, he said.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said the changes would mainly affect hobbyists and the aquarium and aquaculture industries.

"We've already got a battle on our hands trying to eradicate tilapia, one of the world's most invasive fish species, from waterways around the state," he said.

"We don't want a repeat. Our studies show that if tilapia become established in the Gulf of Carpentaria catchments, they could reduce the yields in the commercial barramundi fishery by 20 per cent, costing more than $2 million a year."

Existing owners will have the option to surrender or dispose of banned species or apply for a permit.

They can phone 13 25 23 or visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au for advice.

[Red]

Keep this is Australia , not down here in the USA. That sucks though for Austrians .

[HorrorShowRot]

Queensland australia lol

[Red]

What are you talking about, I said that

[HorrorShowRot]

haha XD yes because australia is canada:P

[HorrorShowRot]

Nice edit red:P

[HorrorShowRot]

But honestly that bugs me you shouldnt need a permit to keep fish. Even if its an "exotic" species people just need to use there ****ing heads:)

[Red]

I prefer if you needed a permit (if it was medium hard on getting one) it takes the pacus and fish out of the hobby to begginers that could get popular in the wild.

[HorrorShowRot]

Yea true but I have actually NEVER even seen an alligator gar for sale. And I have been into aquariums for about 15 years.

[arcticgibs]

I had a couple of gars about 20 years ago but I don't know what kind they were. I just visited a couple of USA sites that said they would sell alligator gars when they were in season.