Tasmanian fishers are being asked to keep an eye out for redfin perch as the brown trout season approaches, after the invasive species was found in the Huon Valley.
An angler caught a redfin perch in Mountain River in 2023, marking the first confirmed sighting of the fish in the area.
The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) has since conducted extensive surveys of farm dams, rivers and creeks in the area and found only one other redfin perch in a small creek.
IFS is now calling on fishers to be vigilant and report any sightings of the pest fish, particularly as the brown trout season opens.
“If you are heading out for a fish in the Huon Valley region, please keep an eye out for these pest fish,” a spokesperson said.
“If you think you’ve seen, found or caught a redfin perch, please take clear photos of it or, if it is dead already, collect the carcass and store it in a freezer.”
“Please take note of the location where it was found, as well as the date and contact the IFS promptly.”
Redfin perch are an invasive species that were introduced to Tasmania in the 1860s and are now established in many areas of the state.
Due to their aggressive nature and ability to reproduce rapidly and overpopulate water bodies, they pose a threat to native fish and trout.
A female can lay up to 350,000 eggs and in some Tasmanian waters, redfin can grow to sizes over 2kg.
