(Pest Animals) Declaration 2015 (No 1) – Rationale
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Attachment E Pest Plants and Animals (Pest Animals) Declaration 2015 (No 1) – Rationale and summary of new and amended provisions 1. Declaration of additional deer species Deer species belonging to the genera Cervus (eg, Red Deer) and Dama (eg, Fallow Deer) are currently declared as pest animals in the ACT. Red Deer and Fallow Deer are categorised as extreme threat species with extreme pest risk status in nationally-endorsed risk assessments1,2. It is proposed to make a new pest animal declaration to add species of the genera Rusa and Axis for the purpose of including the six deer species with established wild populations in Australia. Representative species of Rusa and Axis, including Chital Deer (Axis axis) and Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis formerly Cervus timorensis), are both categorised as extreme threat species with extreme pest risk status in nationally-endorsed risk assessments3,4. The addition of the genus Rusa will declare Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor, formerly Cervus unicolor) as a pest animal in the ACT. There is no nationally-endorsed risk assessment for Sambar Deer, and although documented evidence of environmental impacts is limited, it is accepted that this species poses risks similar to or greater than other deer species. Anecdotal reports of environmental damage from Sambar Deer are beginning to be received in relation to areas of Namadgi National Park, even though population numbers are currently low. Research to quantify actual impacts of Sambar Deer is currently being undertaken by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Parks Victoria. The declaration of Axis species, which are not established in the ACT, is aimed at mitigating any potential incursion from NSW or deliberate introduction from an Australian jurisdiction. Note that declaration of a species as a pest animal does not by itself impose a requirement for land managers to control the species in the ACT. A requirement to control deer would need to be prescribed in a legislated Pest Animal Management Plan or through amendment of the ACT Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005. 2. Declaration of cats as Wild Cats Predation of wildlife by cats is recognised as a Key Threatening Process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) and is the subject of a national Threat Abatement Plan5. On 15 July 2015, environment ministers from all Australian jurisdictions agreed to remove any unnecessary barriers to the effective and humane control of feral cats in their jurisdictions6. New technologies currently under development for baiting feral cats7 should facilitate control programs once they have been approved for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. It is proposed to declare cats that are not owned by people as pest animals in the ACT. Cats will be declared as ‘Wild Cats’ to be consistent with other pest animals currently declared as ‘Wild’ because animals of the same species are also kept by people as pets or livestock. Declaration of Wild Cats 1 http://www.pestsmart.org.au/risk-assessment-for-australia-red-deer 2 http://www.pestsmart.org.au/risk-assessment-for-australia-fallow-deer 3 http://www.pestsmart.org.au/risk-assessment-for-australia-chital-deer 4 The Risk Assessment for Australia - Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis) is not available online. 5 http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened 6 http://www.environment.gov.au/about-us/mem 7 http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia/feral-cats Attachment E would allow for the development of a Pest Animal Management Plan under the ACT Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005 should the ACT Government consider this beneficial. A Pest Animal Management Plan can be used to prescribe the area for control and the methods to be used in mandatory government-coordinated cat control programs. 3. Declaration of nationally-listed noxious fish as pest animals Ornamental fish species are assessed for their potential risk as pest animals by the Freshwater Fish Expert Group of the national Invasive Plants and Animals Committee. High-risk ornamental fish species are included on a national noxious fish list with the agreement of all Australian jurisdictions. The purpose of the national noxious fish list is to prevent the sale and keeping of species that would adversely impact on communities, fisheries or the environment if they were to establish wild populations. Where wild populations are already established in some areas of Australia, listing helps to prevent further spread of the species to uninfested areas. It is proposed to add all nationally-listed noxious fish not currently declared as pest animals in the ACT to the pest animals declaration (see list at end of document). The majority of fish species are declared as ‘Prohibited’ pest animals to prevent their supply or keeping, with the exception of Carp which are indistinguishable from Koi Carp kept by people. Gambusia spp. and Weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), which are already declared as pest animals in the ACT, have been declared as ‘Prohibited’ pest animals to discourage activities that could lead to further spread of these species. One group of related species known as Tilapia (Oreochromis spp., Sarotherodon spp. and Tilapia spp.) are declared as ‘Notifiable’ as well as ‘Prohibited’ pest animals. ‘Notifiable’ pest animals need to be notified to the Director-General of the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate within 2 working days after the day of detection in the ACT. One species of Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is listed by the IUCN as one of 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species and an incursion of this species has recently been detected in northern NSW. Tilapia can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions and have been recognised for their invasive potential in the Murray-Darling Basin. 4. Declaration of Redfin Perch Redfin Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is not included on the national noxious fish list but it is intended to declare this species as a ‘Prohibited’ pest animal because of its known and potential impacts in the ACT and other Australian jurisdictions. Redfin Perch prey on other fish and invertebrates, can destroy fisheries in enclosed water, and carry Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis (EHN) Virus which they can transmit to susceptible native fish including the threatened species Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica) and Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus). Redfin Perch is common in lowland waters of the ACT. The purpose of declaring this species as ‘Prohibited’ from supply or keeping is to discourage activities that could lead to the spread of Redfin Perch into uninfested waters in the ACT. Declaration of Redfin Perch as a pest animal is consistent with its classification as a Class 1 Noxious Fish in NSW. Heavy penalties apply to possessing, selling and importing live Class 1 Noxious Fish in NSW. 5. Addition of ‘Prohibited’ status to declared European Wasp and European Red Fox The European Wasp and the European Red Fox have been declared as pest animals in the ACT since 2005. It is intended to declare them as ‘Prohibited’ pest animals to discourage reckless supply, reckless use of machinery, keeping or reckless disposal of these species under the provisions of the Attachment E ACT Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005. These are activities that are likely to lead to further spread of these species in the ACT. As the European Wasp and European Red Fox are not kept as domestic pets or livestock, the majority of the ACT community would be unaffected by this declaration. Fish species proposed for addition or amendment in the new pest animal declaration The following table does not include those fish species already declared as pest animals for which the declaration will remain unchanged. Currently declared fish species can be viewed at http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2005-255/default.asp Fish species already declared as pest animals that will have their declaration amended to reflect name changes or changes in declaration status are highlighted in yellow. Fish Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Acestrorhynchidae family Acestrorhynchus microlepis Pike Characin X Acipenser baerii baerii Siberian Sturgeon X Acipenser baerii baicalensis Baikal Sturgeon X Acipenser brevirostrum Shortnose Sturgeon X Acipenser dabryanus Yangtze Sturgeon X Acipenser fulvescens Lake Sturgeon X Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Russian Sturgeon X Acipenser medirostris Green Sturgeon X Acipenser mikadoi Sakhalin Sturgeon X Acipenser multiscutatus Japanese Sturgeon X Acipenser naccarii Adriatic Sturgeon X Acipenser nudiventris Fringebarbel Sturgeon X Acipenser oxyrinchus destotoi Gulf Sturgeon X Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Atlantic Sturgeon X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Acipenser persicus Persian Sturgeon X Acipenser ruthenus Sterlet X Acipenser schrenckii Amur Sturgeon X Acipenser sinensis Chinese Sturgeon X Acipenser stellatus Starry Sturgeon X Acipenser sturio European Sturgeon X Acipenser transmontanus White Sturgeon X Alfaro cultratus Knife-edged Livebearer X Alfaro huberi X Allomogurnda nesolepis Yellowbelly Gudgeon X Ameiurus brunneus Snail Bullhead X Ameiurus catus White Catfish X Ameiurus melas Black Bullhead X Ameiurus natalis Yellow Bullhead X Ameiurus nebulosus Brown Bullhead X Ameiurus platycephalus Flat Bullhead X Ameiurus serracanthus Spotted Bullhead X Anabas cobojius Gangetic Climbing Perch X Apeltes quadracus Four Spined Stickleback X Astyanax aeneus Banded Tetra X Astyanax fasciatus Banded Astyanax X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Atractosteus spp. (3 spp.) American, Armoured or Alligator Gars X Centropomus spp. (12 spp.) Snooks X Chaca spp. [replaces Chaca bankanensis, C. burmensis and C. chaca] Angler, Frogmouth and Squarehead Catfishes X Ctenopoma argentoventer Silverbelly Ctenopoma X Ctenopoma kingsleyae Tailspot Ctenopoma X Ctenopoma multispine Manyspined Ctenopoma X Ctenopoma muriei Ocellated Labyrinth Fish X Ctenopoma nigropannosum Twospot Climbing Perch X Ctenopoma ocellatum Eyespot Ctenopoma X Ctenopoma weeksii Mottled Ctenopoma X Culaea inconstans Dormitator latifrons X Pacific Fat Sleeper Dormitator lebretonis X X Dormitator maculatus Fat Sleeper X Eleotris amblyopsis Large Scaled Spiny Cheek Sleeper X Eleotris sandwicensis Sandwich Island Sleeper X Erpetoichthys calabaricus Reedfish X Gambusia spp. Gambusia Mosquito Fish X Catla Gibelion catla Catla X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Gobiomorphus gobioides Giant Bully X Gobiomorphus huttoni Redfin Bully X Gobiomorus dormitor Bigmouth Sleeper X Gobiomorus maculatus Pacific Sleeper X Helicophagus leptorhynchus X Helicophagus waandersii X Hemichromis fasciatus Banded Jewelfish X Heterandria bimaculata Twospot Livebearer X Himantura kittipongi X Himantura krempfi Marbled Freshwater Whip Ray X Himantura oxyrhyncha Marbled Whipray X Huso huso Beluga X Hydrocynus spp. Hydrocynus goliath Pike Characin, Giant Tigerfish X Aristichthys Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Bighead Carp X Hypseleotris cyprinoides Tropical Carp-gudgeon X Hypseleotris tohizonae X Citharinidae - Ichthyborinae – entire subfamily African Pike-characin, Tubenose Poacher, Fin Eaters X Ictalurus balsanus Balsas Catfish X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Ictalurus dugesii Lerma Catfish X Ictalurus furcatus Blue Catfish X Ictalurus lupus Headwater Catfish X Ictalurus mexicanus Rio Verde Catfish X Ictalurus ochoterenai Chapala Catfish X Ictalurus pricei Yaqui Catfish X Ictalurus punctatus Channel Catfish X Lates microlepis Forktail Lates, Sea Bass X Lates niloticus Nile Perch X Lebiasina bimaculata Twospot Lebiasina X Lepidosiren paradoxa South American Lungfish X Lepisosteus spp. (4 spp.) American, Armoured or Alligator Gars X Leptolebias aureoguttatus X Leptolebias marmoratus Marbled Pearlfish X Leptolebias minimus Barred Tail Pearlfish X Leptolebias opalescens Opal Pearlfish X Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Weatherloach X Barbodes Neolissochilus hexagonolepis Copper Mahseer X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Notropis spp. Shiners X Noturus albater Ozark Madtom X Noturus baileyi Smoky Madtom X Noturus crypticus Chucky Madtom X Noturus elegans Elegant Madtom X Noturus eleutherus Mountain Madtom X Noturus exilis Slender Madtom X Noturus fasciatus Saddled Madtom X Noturus flavater Checkered Madtom X Noturus flavipinnis Yellow Madtom X Noturus flavus Stonecat X Noturus funebris Black Madtom X Noturus furiosus Carolina Madtom X Noturus gilberti Orangefin Madtom X Noturus gladiator X Noturus gyrinus Tadpole Madtom X Noturus hildebrandi hildebrandi Least Madtom X Noturus hildebrandi lautus X Noturus insignis Margined Madtom X Noturus lachneri Ouachita Madtom X Noturus leptacanthus Speckled Madtom X Noturus maydeni Black River Madtom X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Notifiable1 Prohibited2 Name Common Name Noturus miurus Brindled Madtom X Noturus munitus Frecklebelly Madtom X Noturus nocturnus Freckled Madtom X Noturus phaeus Brown Madtom X Noturus placidus Neosho Madtom X Noturus stanauli Pygmy Madtom X Noturus stigmosus Northern Madtom X Noturus taylori Caddo Madtom X Noturus trautmani Scioto Madtom X Oreochromis spp. Tilapia Oxydoras spp. (4) Ripsaw Catfish, Black Doras, Black Shielded Catfish X Oxyeleotris heterodon Sentani Gudgeon X X X Oxyeleotris siamensis X Oxyeleotris urophthalmoides X Oxeleotris urophthalmus X Pangasianodon gigas Mekong Giant Catfish X Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Sutchi Catfish X Pangasius conchophilus X Pangasius elongatus X Pangasius krempfi X Pangasius kunyit X 1 Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Name Common Name Pangasius larnaudii Spot Pangasius Notifiable1 Prohibited2 X Pangasius macronema X Pangasius nasutus X Pangasius nieuwenhuisii X Pangasius pangasius Yellowtailed Catfish X Paratrygon aiereba Discus Ray X Trychomycteridae family Paravandellia oxyptera Parasitic Catfish X Perca fluviatilis Redfin Perch X Phoxinus erythrogaster Southern Redbelly Dace X Polyodon spathula Mississippi Paddlefish X Protopterus aethiopicus Marbled Lungfish X Protopterus amphibius Gilled Lungfish X Protopterus dolloi Slender Lungfish X Psephurus gladius Chinese Swordfish X Pylodictis olivaris Flathead Catfish X Rutilus rutilus Roach X Sarotherodon spp. X X Schilbe intermedius Silver Catfish X Schilbe marmoratus Shoulderspot Catfish X Tilapia spp. (all species except T. buttikoferi) Redbelly Tilapia 1 X X Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). Attachment E Fish continued Name Common Name Tinca tinca Tench Tomeurus gracilis Tor spp. (17) 1 Notifiable1 Prohibited2 X X River Carp, and Deccan, Hump Backed, Jungha, Putitor and Thai Mahseer X Notifiable pest animal: a pest animal whose presence must be notified to the director-general (declared under s16(2)(a) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005). 2 Prohibited pest animal: a pest animal whose supply or keeping is prohibited (declared under s16(2)(b) of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005).
