Aussie dad's fight against invasive threat spreading 'everywhere' in our waterways
In the meantime, one Gold Coast dad is taking matters into his hands and doing something about it. Armed with a $6 Kmart fishing net, Scott Clark is single-handedly scooping up a host of water-based invaders choking water systems from creeks, rivers and even stormwater drains in his local area.
They are "everywhere", he told Yahoo News of the growing threat. "It's quite sad."
It started out as a hobby for Scott, collecting small fish to feed his pet turtle, but quickly developed into a deeper purpose when videos of his efforts went viral online with millions of views. Sadly, after 15 years exploring Queensland's fresh water, he no longer sees native fish in local water systems — something that experts warn is a direct result of invasive species taking over.
"A lot of smaller catchments like storm water retentions and lakes are absolute breeding grounds," he explained.
Tilapia, which is native to Africa, South and Central America, Southern India and Sri Lanka, was first introduced into Australia in the 1970s. They're particularly sinister because they compete for resources with native fish, and the effective way they reproduce. The adults carry their eggs and small fry in their mouths, and these can survive for a long time after the adult dies.
"We know in South East Queensland, tilapia and carp are significant problems for the environment," Invasive Species Council acting CEO Jack Gough previously told Yahoo News Australia, warning of native extinctions in freshwater systems.
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Biosecurity Queensland has previously encouraged anglers to target tilapia, but once caught they must be either buried above the high-water mark of the place of capture or placed in a nearby bin. In order to reduce any value being associated with the species, fishers are banned from eating the species, using it as bait or returning it to the water dead or alive.
It's not a rule that Scott agrees with, arguing that in countries like the Philippines, where tilapia is also invasive, citizens are allowed to eat the species.
"They eat it by the bucketload," he said, having recently returned from the country.
Scott explained he visits a number of locations around his local area, with impressive results.
"If I find a place fully infested, I'll attack it multiple times until it's under control," he said.
One particular creek in the Gold Coast used to have "thousands" of tilapia in it and now when he visits, he only gets a "handful", suggesting his efforts appear to be making a big difference.
What's more, people who watch his videos are starting to get out into nature and do the same.
"I'll go out now and six other people will be there and say hello," he said.
He encourages other families to get out there and give it a go. "I don't buy expensive products," he said. "I buy everything I need from Kmart."
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