During a DPI Fisheries periodic surveillance last week, Tilapia were discovered in Eureka Creek, a tributary of the Walsh River and in the Mitchell River Catchment. Seven juvenile Tilapia mariae were caught. Monitoring continues with electrofishing and netting in the creek and in the river both downstream and upstream of the discovery site.

“This is a nightmare for Mitchell River Watershed Management Group,” states Chairperson Hilary Kuhn. “We have worked very hard for over ten years on the establishment of regular surveillance, the installation of Tilapia exclusion  screens in the Mareeba Dimbulah Irrigation Area and education on Tilapia and its possible impacts. So to find a population in the catchment is very distressing news and should be a grave concern for recreational fishers and for the commercial Gulf fishery .”

Tilapia, a highly invasive African species and as much a threat in our waterways as rabbits on land, are a declared noxious fish species in Queensland and there are heavy fines of up to $150,000 for their possession. Tilapia were popular, both as an ornamental fish and in aquaculture, due to their resilience and rapid reproduction and growth rates. Tilapia rapidly degrade aquatic habitats, they can easily  out compete native species and their tolerance of salinity means that they can readily exit rivers through estuaries and travel in marine areas to enter other river systems.

“With Wet Season floods, Tilapia could easily be flushed down the Mitchell River to the Gulf,” continues Hilary Kuhn. “Then Tilapia could move from the Mitchell River estuaries to other catchments through coastal waters. This could be a march akin to the cane toad and Tilapia could eventually infest catchments all the way to Arnhem Land with huge impacts on the fishery.”

At present, monitoring in Eureka Creek and the Walsh River continues upstream and downstream of the infested site. With more anticipated Wet Season floods, MRWMG and DPI Fisheries are urgently distributing information to people in the area on Tilapia.

“It is difficult for people to identify  Tilapia,” states Deb Eastop MRWMG Coordinator. “Juveniles are particularly difficult to recognise and people should not transfer bait fish from places that are already infested with Tilapia. Infested areas include Tinaroo Dam and some coastal catchments around Cairns. Anglers may not realise that it is Tilapia in their bucket and accidently introduce them to Tilapia-free catchments, such as the Mitchell River. Anglers need to be vigilant. It is the only way that we can control the spread of Tilapia to the Mitchell River and Gulf catchments.

If anyone thinks that they have found Tilapia in a new area they should contact  the Fishwatch Hotline on 1800 017 116 or phone DPI&F on 13 25 23.”

For more information on Tilapia and for Press Inquiry, please contact Brynn Mathews, MRWMG Projects Officer on telephone: 07 4053 2856 or 0427 484 730 .


Tilapia Do’s and Don’ts:
Do:

• Find out what Tilapia look like from information provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F))
• Kill Tilapia in a humane way, disposing of the fish well away from the water (bury on the bank or wrap in plastic and bin)
• Contact DPI&F of any Tilapia sightings on 13 25 23
• Use bait native to the waterway
• Report anyone suspected of moving or dumping pest fish to the Fishwatch Hotline on 1800 107 116

• Do not use Tilapia as bait as they can release eggs from their mouths even after death
• Do not move Tilapia between waterways
• Do not stock aquariums, dams or ponds with pest fish – use native fish from the same catchment instead
• Do not empty aquariums, dams or ponds into waterways either directly or indirectly via the sewer or stormwater drains.
  
  
  
  
  

We have moved! (see map below)
Our postal address remains the same,
but our phone and fax number has changed.

NEW PHONE NUMBER: 07 4053 2856
NEW FAX NUMBER: 07 4053 2942

We are still co-located with CYPDA and the Cape York Fire Project, you can find us at:
4/275 McCormack Street, Manunda, Qld 4870.
There is parking on the street at the front of the building, so if you are in town, drop in for a cuppa!

Click on image for larger view

Electric ants alert!
A serious new pest in Queensland.

Yvonne Perron from the Electric Ant Control Centre at the Department of Primary Industries gave a presentation on Electric ants at the November MRWMG General Meeting in Mt Molloy. Smithfield and Kewarra Beach, in Cairns, are the main areas of infestation but it is important that all people in the region keep an eye out for this serious new pest and avoid practices that may cause a spread of the ants.

How You Can Help
Be on the lookout!
Electric Ants:

• Are tiny, about 1.5mm long
• Are a coppery colour all over
• Are usually slow moving
• Are social - they like to be with each other, often in heaps
• Do not have nests – electric ants establish colonies anywhere and have been found under stones, in garden waste, leaf mould, soil, trees, swimming pools and water courses, and may be in wall cavities, clothing, bedding or camping gear
• Can be found in wet or dry conditions
• Like water- they may ’jump’ into swimming pools and water bodies and form a ‘raft’.
  
  

  If you see suspicious ants at anytime, call Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (DPI&F) on 13 25 23 so a sample can be collected and identified.

  Eradication activities being conducted in the Cairns region
  
  The Queensland Government is undertaking a range of activities to combat electric ants, including:

  • surveillance and treatment
  • sample identification
  • movement controls to stop the spread of electric ants
  • engaging the community
  • research and development of new treatment methods.

  Sample identification
  The Electric Ant Control Centre staff identify samples of ants collected during surveillance activities and by members of the community, to assist in defining the extent of this infestation. If you would like to be mailed a ‘Sample Kit’ to collect suspicious ants please call DPI&F on 13 25 23.

  Community Talks
  The Community Engagement Officer is available to present information about the ants to Community groups, these presentations provide an opportunity to view a sample of the ants, ask any questions, understand the ant problem and how they can help. Please call Yvonne Perron on 4044 1663 to book a presentation for your group.

  The Electric ant warning sheet can be viewed and printed here (will open in a new window) or by clicking on the image above.
  
  Supplies of the warning sheet and posters are available by contacting:
  Yvonne Perron
  Community Engagement Officer
  Electric Ant Control Centre
  Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
  
  21 Redden Street
  PO Box 652, Cairns, Qld 4870
  
  Telephone: 07 4044 1663
  Mobile: 0421 692 174 Fax: 07 4035 4834
  Email: yvonne.perron@dpi.qld.gov.au

Wild Rivers
In October 2005 the Queensland Government passed the Wild Rivers Act and there are currently 6 rivers nominated for declaration as a Wild River - Staaten, Morning Inlet, Gregory, Settlement, Hinchinbrook Island and Fraser Island. Natural Resources Mines and Water have released a revised Wild Rivers Draft Code, this document describes in detail what and how resource use activities will be assessed in the area of a declared Wild River. The Government sought public comment (submissions) on both the nominations and the Codes of Practice. It was really important for community to have their say on these matters. There was a substantial community effort in response to the nominations and the codes of practice.

NRMW staff gave a presentation to the Mitchell River meeting in January 2006 and a copy of this presentation is available for you to view: PDF File View                                          

For further information on the Act, Policy declarations and more, go to www.nrm.qld.gov.au/wildrivers

* WILD RIVERS UPDATE *
The first 6 rivers were declared in February 2007, and there is a moratorium on 13 rivers of the Cape York Peninsula. The moratorium applies to taking or interfering with water in streams, sub-artesian aquifers and overland flow.

Freshwater Sawfish Research
A Masters thesis study was undertaken on this remarkable creature Pristis microdon also known as Freshwater sawfish, Leichardt's sawfish or the Smalltooth sawfish. The Mitchell River appears to hold reasonable numbers of these animals. The dwarf and green sawfish are found more towards the mouth of the river in the estuarine section. The research looked at the biology and ecology of sawfishes within QLD. Part of the study involved a tag/release program operating in the Mitchell River. Research so far shows that the freshwater sawfish has a marine component to its life cycle. Mature animals come into the mouths of the rivers to drop their pups during the wet season and then juvenile to sub adult sawfish then venture upstream with the receding floodwaters.

The Marine Education Society of Australasia (MESA) chose the plight of the declining Freshwater sawfish as the theme for Seaweek 2008. As part of the weeks activities MESA released an on-line story titled "The Adventures of Sonya the Freshwater Sawfish". Click here if you want to read this story.