Alerts

The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has updated the list of permitted live freshwater ornamental fish to temporarily remove 18 rainbow fish species. The reviewed list can be found on our website.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is currently implementing processes to ensure that the species can be imported in accordance with Part 2 of the list of specimens taken to be suitable for live import (live import list) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

All rainbow fish species listed on Part 2 of the DCCEEW live import list must only be sourced from a captive bred population prior to export to Australia. They therefore require a non-CITES species permit issued by DCCEEW.

As of 20 May 2024, the following rainbow fish species must not be imported until processes are finalised:

• Chilatherina alleni
• Chilatherina axelrodi
• Chilatherina bleheri
• Chilatherina pagwiensis
• Chilatherina pricei
• Chilatherina sentaniensis
• Glossolepis dorityi
• Glossolepis maculosa
• Glossolepis pseudoincisus
• Glossolepis ramuensis
• Glossolepis wanamensis
• Kiunga ballochi
• Kiunga bleheri
• Pseudomugil connieae
• Pseudomugil furcatus
• Pseudomugil ivantsoffi
• Pseudomugil luminatus
• Pseudomugil reticulatus

All other species included on the DAFF List of permitted live freshwater ornamental fish can be imported as per regular import processes.

As of 1 November 2023 the list of permitted live freshwater and marine ornamental fish was removed from the appendix of import permits. If your current permit still contains ‘Appendix 3: List: Permitted live freshwater/marine ornamental fish suitable for import’ your permit will remain valid until the date specified on the permit.

Who does this alert affect:
Australian importers of live freshwater ornamental fish and departmental staff.

Further information:
Please contact wildlifetrade@dcceew.gov.au.