A Draft Report to Address the Potential Environmental Impacts Associated

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A Draft Report to Address the Potential Environmental Impacts Associated A draft report to address the potential environmental impacts associated with the importation of Labidochromis caeruleus, The Electric Yellow Cichlid for use as an ornamental species within Australia. The proponents wish to use live specimens of Labidochromis caeruleus, The Electric Yellow Cichlid to breed in licensed aquaculture facilities. The species is one of the most popular in the aquarium hobby, widely traded within Australia except for the Northern Territory where the allowable list of species permitted to be imported into the territory under the provisions of the NT Fisheries Legislation is linked to the list of permitted species under the provisions of the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. (EPBC Act). To use this species as an aquaculture subject in the Northern Territory it is required to be listed as an allowable import into Australia. The proponents do not currently wish to import any specimens and will access brood stock from southern states wholesalers or breeders of ornamental fishes. The proponents realise that if listed on EPBC Act section 303EB list other business may import this species from overseas facilities that comply with Australian Biosecurity import regulations. This colour variant of the species has been in circulation within Australia since the 1990’s with the first specimens distributed onto the world stage in 1986. It is readily available in the aquarium trade in all states except the NT. If the proponents are successful, good quality, disease free broodstock will be sought from reputable suppliers and used to supply the Australian Ornamental Aquarium Fish Industry. Male Labidochromis caeruleus, photograph by Devon Barnes, Permission to use obtained 23 March 2017 Draft Assessment Report to address the terms of reference 1. Provide information on the taxonomy of the species The following information is required about the taxonomy of the species and its role in its natural environment: 1 1.a ) Family name: Identify which family the species belongs to. 1b) Genus name: Identify which genus the species belongs to. 1.c ) Species: Identify the species. Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Actinopterygii, Order: Perciformes, Family: Cichlidae, Genus: Labidochromis, Species: caeruleus Fryer 1956 Labidochromis caeruleus is described as a brightly coloured perch like small lacustrine insectivore that grows up to 13 cm total length but more common 8 to 10 cm. It inhabits deep rocky areas in Northern parts of Lake Malawi (Africa), it occurs in depths from 10 to 25 meters. The population has some variation in colour forms ranging from pale silver to light blue with darker vertical bars to bright yellow with black borders on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. Konings 2016 (page 142) reports that the population of this species in the aquarium trade worldwide could be up to a thousand times greater than that in lake Malawi. Konings 2016 also describes the locations in Lake Malawi of the colour variations of this species. Reference: Konings, Ad. (2016) “Malawi Cichlids in their natural Habitat, 5th edition” Reference: Wikipedia accessed 13 March 2017, available on the world wide web at universal resource locator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labidochromis_caeruleus Reference: California Catalogue of Fishes http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?spid=25522 Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2015). 1.d ) Subspecies: Are there any recognised subspecies, and if so, what subspecies does the proposed specimen for import belong to? A search of Fishbase and California Catalogue of Fishes and other resource material revealed no record of any Labidochromis caeruleus sub species . Reference: California Catalogue of Fishes http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?spid=25522 Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2015). 1.e ) Taxonomic Reference: e.g. Axelrod, page no., illustration page no. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2015). Reference: Konings, Ad. (2016) “Malawi Cichlids in their natural Habitat, 5th edition” 1.f ) Common Names: Note what common names the species is known as (if any) e.g. the Plains Zebra (common name) is known scientifically as Equus burchelli, where ‘Equus’ is the genus and ‘burchelli’ is the species. Zebras belong to the family Equidae. Country - Common Name Australia - Electric yellow USA - blue streak hap, Lemon yellow hap 2 Malawi - Labidochromis white Malawi - Labidochromis yellow Philippines - Yellow prince Reference - Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2015). Reference: Wikipedia, accessed on 25 march 2017, available on the world wide web at universal resource locator at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labidochromis_caeruleus 1.g ) Is the species a genetically-modified organism (GMO)? Identify if the species has been genetically modified. If the species has been genetically modified or engineered, you will need to contact the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (www.ogtr.gov.au) before proceeding with this application. Labidochromis caeruleus Fryer, 1956 is a naturally occurring species endemic to the Northern parts of Lake Malawi in Africa. It is not genetically modified. References: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2015). 2. Provide information on the status of the species under CITES The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international treaty involving over 150 countries with the purpose of protecting wildlife from unregulated trade. Australia, as a member country, controls the import and export of species that are threatened or could become threatened due to trade in them or their products. A species may be affected in its natural environment by factors such as habitat destruction and fragmentation, and illegal collection for a variety of purposes e.g. for the pet industry. To help mitigate the threat of collection and trade, the species could be listed in the CITES Appendices. A species on CITES Appendix I or II requires appropriate CITES import permits to enter Australia. If the proposed species for import is listed on CITES Appendix I or II, discuss as appropriate: 2.a ) Implications of illegal trade Labidochromis caeruleus is not listed under Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a search of CITES Check list revealed no record of Labidochromis caeruleus. It is not listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A search of the IUCN red list of Threatened Species revealed a classification for Labidochromis caeruleus of “least concern”. It occurs in deep water among rock in Lake Malawi, the collection of large amounts would be impractical when the species is readily bred in captivity. The species is produced in large numbers at aquaculture facilities to supply the ornamental fish trade. It is freely traded in Australia in southern and Eastern states. If brood stock was imported into Australia before 1999 then currently it is only the Northern Territory where it is illegal to trade, possess or import. This puts the NT ornamental fish retail outlets and aquaculturists at a disadvantage to the rest of the country. The disadvantage of trade between the states gives the appearance of a situation that is unconstitutional. Section 92, Trade within the Commonwealth to be free. There is no reference that could be found that the species is traded illegally anywhere throughout the world. If there is an illegal trade into the NT it would occur among hobbyists that are avid collectors of cichlid species that may import specimens from other jurisdictions in Australia without a NT Fisheries Permit. Currently the Fisheries Division of the Department of Primary Industry and Resources requires anyone wishing to import any live fish into the Territory that they apply for a translocation permit. If fish are moved around by hobbyists across borders and the fish is not an invasive species the other risk is the transfer of disease. It would be possible to bring unwanted disease into the NT. 3 References - Cites Checklist is available on the world wide web at universal resource locator, http://checklist.cites.org/#/en accessed 13 March 2017. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. accessed on 13 March 2017. Australian Constitution accessed 13 March 2017, is available on the world wide web at universal resource locator http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/ 2.b ) popularity of the species in trade e.g. pet industry Labidochromis caeruleus is widely and freely traded within Australia from specimens bred in captivity. It is not a permitted import so the trade relies on progeny of specimens that were in the country prior to the commencement of the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is in constant request from local NT Aquarium outlets (pers com Author 2- Avis Hurley proprietor of Hurley’s Aquarium, Palmerston NT. and Tracey Smith proprietor of Hibiscus Pet and Aquariums, Leanyer NT. The price of the fish within Australia from on-line aquarium trade ranges from $10 to $50 each depending on size. Prices listed were found on the world wide web at universal resource locators for retail shops “Live Fish”, “Coburg Aquarium” and “Aquarium Warehouse”, these retail on line traders send fish throughout Australia. If a Northern Territory customer accidentally buys a popular fish such as Labidochromis caeruleus, the electric yellow cichlid, they are committing an offence against the NT Fisheries Laws. Labidochromis caeruleus is produced in at least one commercial fish hatchery in the Cairns area Qld by Dean Datodi. It is produced for Aquarium Industries in Melbourne (pers com. Bruce Hansen). It is fish like this and Bristlenose Catfish Ancistris sp.
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