Introduced fish trial

A proposal by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to stock Victorian waters with artificially-reared fish could have serious and dangerous repercussions for the state's marine life.

In an effort to boost the numbers of fish available to recreational fishers the DPI wants to trial a fish stocking program in Victorian marine waters.

Species being considered include eastern king prawns, mulloway, flathead, bream, perch and king fish. The survival rate of Eastern King Prawn is only 4 per cent by the time it reaches a catchable size.

However, the introduction of artificially-reared fish into a wild marine system carries significant risks, including:

1. Introducing new diseases.
2. Damaging the genetics of wild fish populations.
3. Carrying other pest species into the marine system.
4. Causing an imbalance in the marine food chain.
5. Creating increased competition between marine species.
6. Increasing fishing pressures in waters that have been stocked.
7. Potentially harming existing fisheries.
8. Adding to habitat and environmental disturbance.

These risks are amplified in Victoria's marine environment where introduced species can move easily along the coastline and have a widespread impact, as demonstrated three years ago by the rapid invasion rate of the abalone virus Ganglioneuritis.

The VNPA believes that when there is concern over the status of a fishery, the first step must be to identify the nature of the problem - only then can the most appropriate management options be selected.

But instead the DPI has gone down the path of stocking, which is costly and dangerous for the marine environment.

Without proper scientific research, evaluation and planning a marine stocking program will be expensive, contribute little to the recreational fishery, and may have very serious consequences for Victoria's marine environment.

Far too much confidence has been placed in stocking wild fisheries with hatchery-reared fish to maintain or increase fish populations.

Undermining State Government commitments

The Victorian Coastal Strategy, the State Government's policy commitment for coastal, estuarine and marine environments, is underpinned by a commitment to ecologically sustainable development (ESD), a fundamental component of which is the precautionary principle.

The strategy identifies the need to protect significant environmental values based on a sound understanding of marine and coastal features, vulnerabilities and risks.

The Department of Primary Industries' Protocols for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Organisms has also been developed within the context of ESD objectives and principles.

The DPI has failed to demonstrate that the serious risks associated with introducing fish into the marine environment have been adequately addressed, or that the benefits to all Victorians outweigh the significant risks posed by stocking Victorian marine waters for the first time.

The State Government has committed to a precautionary approach to management through the Coastal Strategy. However, introducing cultured fish into the marine environment for the very first time without detailed scientific investigation of the need, potential impacts, and expected outcomes clearly falls short of this commitment.

If fish stocks are diminishing, the government should address the causes, such as the lack of sufficient environmental flows to open estuaries, rather than indiscriminately dumping fish into marine waters.
The use of artificially-reared fish should not be used as an alternative to the protection and restoration of habitat or the regulation of catch limits.

The VNPA supports the Department of Primary Industries' commitment to full scientific investigation prior to implementing fisheries management actions, and believes all management of marine fish stocks must be underpinned by the precautionary principle.

The VNPA supports the efforts of VRFish and recreational fishers to develop and implement effective and sustainable fisheries management tools, but does not support any stocking of fish into the marine environment unless those species are translocated from within the local environment.

For more information on this issue please contact the VNPA's Conservation Officer, Simon Branigan, on 03 9347 5188 or email simonb@vnpa.org.au.

Photo credit: Original image sourced under a Creative Commons licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/3161635725/in/photostream/.