Comments on this application closed on 28 July 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 4 species of freshwater fish 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 – Freshwater Fish’ and assess the suitability of these species for import into Australia. The species are:
- Ancistrus tamboensis
- Boraras brigittae
- Sewellia lineolata
- Synodontis petricola
How can I get involved
Comments are invited on the draft report. It is available for public comment for 30 business days, closing on Friday 28 July 2023.
Read the reports
Ancistrus tamboensis (PDF 529 KB)
Ancistrus tamboensis (DOCX 1.6 MB)
Boraras brigittae (PDF 479 KB)
Boraras brigittae (DOCX 1.18 MB)
Sewellia lineolata (PDF 528 KB)
Sewellia lineolata (DOCX 1.37 MB)
Synodontis petricola (PDF 459 KB)
Synodontis petricola (DOCX 1.55 MB)
All comments received will be provided to the applicant to address in finalising the assessment reports. 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 look-alike species?
- What diseases can these fish carry and what diseases are they known to be susceptible to?
- 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 for 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 reports 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 these reports are those of the applicant and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Water.