Both Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and spotted tilapia (Tilapia mariae) have established significant populations in Queensland from far north down to southeast of the state, including all the catchments that border the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). In NSW, there is one known population of O. mossambicus in Cudgen Lake on the far north coast, first detected in 2014. No other tilapia species have been detected in any other NSW waterway.
Current economic impact costs in Queensland lies between A$1.2 million and A$13.6 million per annum (2020/21-dollar terms) and this could grow significantly on a national scale if allowed to spread into other key waterways (Sunarto et al., 2022) such as the Murray-Darling Basin, where it could also have drastic impacts on native fish populations.
The main risk pathways for tilapia spread are through human interaction or environmental flow, in particular from the existing QLD and NSW populations.
The NSW Tilapia Control Plan has been developed as a clear and concise plan for the management of tilapia in NSW. The Plan sets goals and priorities that will help improve NSW’s ability to prevent and respond to new tilapia incursions and manage the negative impacts of established populations. It highlights areas that require further collaboration across agencies to help raise awareness within the community and drive the development and use of technologies in the management of this invasive species. This presentation will discuss the strategic approach to socialising the NSW Tilapia Control Plan to increase the shared responsibility for reducing the risk of further spread and potential impact of this significant invasive pest fish on the NSW economy, environment and social amenity.
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