Comments on this application closed on 28 June 2023. The text and documents below remain available for reference only.
About the applications
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has received applications to include 16 species of rainbowfish from the genus Melanotaenia on the Live Import List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The reports have been prepared against the terms of reference for freshwater fish and assess the suitability of these species for import into Australia. The species are:
- Melanotaenia affinis
- Melanotaenia ammeri
- Melanotaenia boesemani
- Melanotaenia garylangei
- Melanotaenia goldiei
- Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
- Melanotaenia irianjaya
- Melanotaenia kamaka
- Melanotaenia lacustris
- Melanotaenia papuae
- Melanotaenia parkinsoni
- Melanotaenia parva
- Melanotaenia picta
- Melanotaenia praecox
- Melanotaenia rubrivittata
- Melanotaenia sexlineata
How can I get involved
Comments are invited on each of the draft reports. They are available for public comment for 30 business days, closing on Wednesday 28 June 2023.
Read the reports
Melanotaenia affinis (PDF 1.22 MB)
Melanotaenia affinis (DOCX 2.41 MB)
Melanotaenia ammeri (PDF 883 KB)
Melanotaenia ammeri (DOCX 1.91 MB)
Melanotaenia boesemani (PDF 1.12 MB)
Melanotaenia boesemani (DOCX 2.3 MB)
Melanotaenia garylangei (PDF 1.08 MB)
Melanotaenia garylangei (DOCX 2.17 MB)
Melanotaenia goldiei (PDF 1.05 MB)
Melanotaenia goldiei (DOCX 2.2 MB)
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi (PDF 1.09 MB)
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi (DOCX 2.12 MB)
Melanotaenia irianjaya (PDF 1.06 MB)
Melanotaenia irianjaya (DOCX 2.2 MB)
Melanotaenia kamaka (PDF 1.04 MB)
Melanotaenia kamaka (DOCX 2.09 MB)
Melanotaenia lacustris (PDF 1.35 MB)
Melanotaenia lacustris (DOCX 2.34 MB)
Melanotaenia papuae (PDF 990 KB)
Melanotaenia papuae (DOCX 1.97 MB)
Melanotaenia parkinsoni (PDF 1.09 MB)
Melanotaenia parkinsoni (DOCX 2.26 MB)
Melanotaenia parva (PDF 990 KB)
Melanotaenia parva (DOCX 800 KB)
Melanotaenia picta (PDF 1.13 MB)
Melanotaenia picta (DOCX 2.48 MB)
Melanotaenia praecox (PDF 980 KB)
Melanotaenia praecox (DOCX 2.02 MB)
Melanotaenia rubrivittata (PDF 990 KB)
Melanotaenia rubrivittata (DOCX 2.18 MB)
Melanotaenia sexlineata (PDF 1.17 MB)
Melanotaenia sexlineata (DOCX 2.46 MB)
All comments received will be provided to the applicant to address in finalising the assessment report. Any relevant information provided will be considered by the department prior to briefing the Minister.
In inviting public comment, the department would value commentary on the broader aspects of the applications or specific items such as:
- At what size can these fish be visually distinguished from other species in the same genus?
- What diseases can these fish carry and what diseases are they known to be susceptible to in the aquarium trade?
- What are the likely potential impacts if these species were to establish feral populations in Australia?
Finalised risk assessment reports may be published on the department’s website. Comments received during this consultation process may be used and referenced in the final report. Comments will be attributed to organisations, not to individuals. If you wish your comments to remain confidential, you should clearly mark the relevant part(s) of your comments as ‘confidential’.
If it is not possible to meet the deadline, please contact the department at exotic.species@dcceew.gov.au.
Send your comments
Please forward any written comments to:
The Director
Live Import List and CITES Policy Section
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
GPO Box 3090
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: exotic.species@dcceew.gov.au
Privacy
Personal information that you provide will only be used for these purposes. Personal information may be disclosed to the Minister for the Environment and Water, employees of her office, and employees of Australian Government agencies assisting the Minister.
Disclaimer
The applicant’s report addressing the Terms of Reference is circulated for public comment in compliance with section 303EF (2b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Water.