The Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems team at Catchment Solutions are experts in managing invasive fish species.
The team currently manages and coordinates efforts to control and limit the spread of the pest fish, tilapia, in key Queensland sites.
Recent incursions of tilapia in Queensland pose a significant risk to currently unaffected waterways. This three-year project aims to limit the spread of tilapia throughout catchments of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Over the past year work on defining the distribution of current incursions and developing control measures has been undertaken. A predatory control trial was commenced in the Gooseponds (Mackay) with the aim of using stocked barramundi to control tilapia numbers.
To raise public awareness, Catchment Solutions has conducted numerous workshops, presentations and stakeholder engagement activities to help decrease the likelihood of the public moving tilapia to unaffected waterways
Invasive species like tilapia threaten the health and viability of entire aquatic ecosystems by threatening native plant and animal populations and diminishing water quality.
How it works
The Catchment Solutions’ fisheries team members are industry leading experts in preventing, controlling and eradicating infestations of invasive species, and enhancing existing native vegetation and the condition of native fish communities.
Results are achieved through through on-ground intervention, activities and monitoring. The team also build strong community involvement and support strengthen awareness, education, and community capacity for ongoing ecological management.
Work also includes research, sampling, monitoring and evaluation to build scientific knowledge about tilapia and other aquatic ecosystem pest species. The team takes a holistic approach to aquatic ecosystem management, incorporating fish restocking, habitat improvement, and collaborative and community outreach to ensure maximum benefit from any project.
