There are several ways to help the Service in its management of Tasmania's inland fisheries. A key way is to fish responsibly by following the general rules and regulations that apply to individual waters and to let the Service know about others who are not fishing responsibly. Your feedback on management strategies is also valuable. If you are an experienced fisher, you can help by sharing your passion and knowledge with others, particularly young anglers.

Responsible actions

Aside from following specific rules and regulations, you can help protect Tasmania's inland fishery by preventing the spread of pest fish, plants and diseases in the following ways:

• Do not bring live or dead fish, fish products, animals or aquatic plants into Tasmania from overseas or interstate.
• Do not release or transfer any freshwater fish, frogs, tadpoles, invertebrates or plants into or between any inland waters (including private dams, farm dams, public waters or put them into drains or down the toilet).
• Report any unusual fish captures or sightings to the Service immediately.
• Contact the Parks and Wildlife Service if you see a diseased frog.
• Wash mud and weeds from your fishing boat and trailer and clean all fishing gear (eg waders) and camping gear before entering Tasmania and moving between waters within the State.
• If travelling into Australia from New Zealand, ensure you clean all your fishing equipment thoroughly to prevent the introduction of Didymo.
• Do not use willow as a rod support, as it has the ability to propagate.
• Buy aquarium fish only from registered aquarium dealers in Tasmania.
• Contact the Service for correct and responsible disposal of unwanted fish, aquatic animals and plants.

Introduced Algae –  Didymo

Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) is a freshwater diatom (algae) that can cause massive algal blooms on the beds of streams, rivers and occasionally lake edges where wave action exists. Didymo has recently been identified in the South Island of New Zealand and consequently the potential for translocation to Tasmania is vastly increased. Didymo can adversely affect freshwater fish, plant and invertebrate species by reducing the number of suitable habitats available to these species.

The algae attaches to the streambed by stalks. These stalks can form a thick brown mat that smothers rocks, submerged plants and other aquatic materials. Established mats form flowing streamers that can turn white at their ends and look similar to brown tissue paper. Although the algae appear slimy, it feels like wet tissue paper.

Didymo is made up of diatom cells that cannot be seen with the naked eye until large colonies form. It takes only ONE of these cells to survive and be transported to other water bodies for Didymo to spread. Didymo cells thrive in freshwater and as such, the cleaning of equipment in freshwater helps to keep them alive.

How YOU can help prevent the spread of Didymo to Tasmania

When travelling to Australia from New Zealand, anglers should soak and scrub all fishing related equipment for at least one minute in either hot water (60oC), a two percent solution of household bleach or a five percent solution of salt, nappy cleaner, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing detergent. If in doubt increase the strength of the solution and scrub well.

Do not use felt soled waders in Australia that have been used in New Zealand (or elsewhere overseas)!! Please clean thoroughly and treat as above any other waders. Waders have been shown to be a very likely cause of didymo transfer.

Within Tasmania, before leaving a river, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for any hidden clumps. Leave this material at the river site. If you find any material later, do not wash it down drain. Treat it with the appropriate cleaning methods and place any material in rubbish bin. If cleaning is not practical, completely dry the item and then wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use with waterways.

Help protect Tasmania’s inland waterways and report any unusual algal bloom sightings.

For more information, visit

DPIW didymo awareness page

www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo

Be a responsible angler always and report any suspicious or illegal activities immediately to the Service, Tasmania Police or Bush Watch 1800 005 555.