New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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A review of rotenone use for the control of non-indigenous fish in Australian fresh waters, and an attempted eradication of the noxious fish, Phalloceros caudimaculatus

Thomas S. Rayner*
Robert G. Creese

Office of Conservation
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach
NSW 2316, Australia
email: thomas.rayner@jcu.edu.au
*Present address: School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Angus Smith Drive, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

Abstract Rotenone has been used as a piscicide in Australia for c. 45 years. In freshwater systems this use has focused on the control of non-indigenous fish species. Little of this use has been registered, reported or documented and Australian fisheries researchers and managers are forced to rely on international literature. This paper reviews all available documentation relating to rotenone use in Australia, before discussing some planning and application issues that may be faced by those considering rotenone use. A recent attempt to eradicate a population of noxious poeciliid fish (Phalloceros caudimaculatus) is used as a case study. Although this effort was conducted in a closed system, dense aquatic vegetation prohibited adequate mixing of rotenone and allowed the survival of target fish in areas with low rotenone concentrations. Several months later, the target species persisted at the treated site. If similar systems are to be treated in the future, we suggest that pools are drained before application. We also recommend that the current legislative arrangements for rotenone use in Australia are reviewed, to encourage the proper documentation of eradication events.

Keywords Derris; Anguillidae; Poeciliidae; Galaxidae; piscicide; permits; legislation; introduced fish

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2006, Vol. 40: 477–486
0028–8330/06/4003–0477     © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
M05016; Online publication date 15 August 2006. Received 31 March 2005; accepted 24 March 2006

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