What FeralFishScan provides

Since European settlement, the deliberate or accidental introduction of non-native fish into Australian freshwater ecosystems has resulted in the establishment of many populations of pest fish species. These species are broadly considered as 'pests' because they threaten native fish species, river health and aquatic ecosystems by:

Degrading or compounding the degradation of aquatic ecosystems by stirring up sediment, undermining river banks and increasing nutrient levels
Feeding on or destroying native aquatic plants
Competing for native fish food/habitat and preying on native fish or frog eggs
Spreading disease and parasites that can adversely impact native species.

Pests such as European carp (also called Common carp), Redfin perch, Eastern gambusia, Oriental weatherloach and Goldfish are listed as ‘noxious’ in NSW by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and are listed as a pest species by the ACT Government.

FeralFishScan is a free resource

For farmers, the public, community groups, Landcare, local councils, professional pest controllers, and biosecurity groups. Anyone can use FeralFishScan to record information about pest fish. The more information you record, the more useful FeralFishScan will become for planning future fish management.

You can use FeralFishScan to monitor and record fish distribution

Including sightings and evidence of fish, report impacts fish cause and where control efforts have been focused.

Plan coordinated control activities

FeralFishScan can help you and your community to decide where best to undertake control together, to achieve the most cost-effective outcomes from control.

What to record

Sightings and evidence of fish
Photographs
Damage or problems caused by fish
Control activities, such as location where control has been undertaken, e.g. fishing programs

The more information you record, the more useful the FeralFishScan map will become for you, your neighbours, your community, and local authorities helping people to manage pest fish.

Read Case Studies

How to use FeralFishScan