12 replies to this topic

[Rod]

Is it legal to keep them?
Anyone keeping them if it is?
Love to see them in the flesh!

Edited by Rod, 27 March 2011 - 09:59 AM.

[sydad]

To the best of my knowledge it is not illegal to either collect or keep salamander fish.
Nobody in ANGFA WA has confirmed that they are currently keeping this species: they are not an easy fish to maintain, having some rather specific water chemistry needs if prolonged survival is desired.
Several ANGFA WA members have indicated an intention to try to collect some, but this will not be possible until we have had some good rainfall in the south, and it is easier to do the collecting when water levels are subsiding, and fry have reached a decent size.

Syd.

[Rod]

Drove though the area that contains their habitat yesterday
Very dry....if any were around they would have been dug in deep!
I imagine they need cool water that's soft and acid?
Just like some Killies and wild type bettas
Are they livebearers?
I see males fertilize females internally
If you do collect any...I'd be Happy to swap for some Honey Blue eyes?

[Peckoltia]

Been interested in these guys since hearing a lecture on them at uni. Always wondered what the legalities on collecting some were. Would be very keen on some/collecting if this all goes through.

[Juls]

I'm also very keen to keep these guys, i visit the area a few times a year, but have only thought about catching some, at the moment i don't have spare pre setup space for them.

I tried to do some research and I called Fisheries several months back, but no one there could give me a answer if it would be legal to catch them for any purpose, and what methods of capture are legal, and if it would be legal to keep salamanders. In Fact they where unable to help me at all.

Basically, the rules for WA freshwater fishing is.

1. You must have a Freshwater fishing licence.
2. Bait Traps are totally illegal.
3. Fishing Nets of any description other than a landing net (no longer than 1m, and specific for landing purposes only) are illegal.
4. It is not known if an aquarium net is a legal fishing implement, as it fits under the above rule.
5. The only legal fishing method in freshwater in WA is by hook and line. (which wouldn't work with a salamander, and if you got a small enough hook, the salamander would die from the wound anyway)

The problem is there is no "specific" rules regarding capture of small non food species for ornamental purposes.

The bigger problem is that because there is no specific rules it falls under the freshwater angling rules, which ultimately say it's illegal, but more by default in that the rules are not designed for non edible fish, but still cover them.

Is it legal to catch these for ornamental purposes, well No.. But Yes.. but no, probably no because nobody knows not even the people who enforce the rules.

Juls

[sydad]

Both The Aquarium Society of WA and ANGFA WA have discussed this matter with Fisheries WA on a number of occasions over the years, and although the bureaucrats have provided no concrete answers, they have , in the past, always said that collections of small numbers of native fishes for personal (as distinct from commercial) purposes would not be considered "illegal". They have however adjured (read advised) that if a number of people were to be involved in a collecting episode, the organisation involved should make an ad hoc application for a one-off group permit to make the collection.

The problem is that being a bureaucracy, with a constant turnover of upper echelon decision makers, Fisheries can never seem to come to a logical, and continuing series of steps that need to be taken by hobbyists wishing to make collections of natives: so every event has differing requirements to make proceedings "legal".

As a member of the Freshwater Advisory Group set up by one Director, and promptly disbanded by the incumbent, I never cease to be amazed that anything of value ever came out of our deliberations. In fact, in retrospect, I doubt if anything ever did, as most of our recommendations seem to have been ignored by all concerned. Gives one a warm fuzzy feeling inside (NOT).

Syd.

Edited by sydad, 31 March 2011 - 11:16 PM.

[Rod]

WA anglers don't/can't use live bait fish?

No traps....no nets!!

Perhaps digging and seiving in dry season is the only legal collection method?

[Juls]

It's certainly frustrating,

So in theory if u did get some, keep em for a bit, that's possibly ok,

But supposing you bred them (very unlikely) then you couldn't sell the offspring you would need to give them away, which isn't a bad thing, just would be a bit tricky if one wasn't aware.

I'm interested in the galaxias as well.
Juls

[keleherr]

iv collected them a few times but thats because i work for the freshwater fish group at Murdoch and we have the correct permits from fisheries and DEC for survey and biology. also, they have been bred in captivity.
if you's want better info contact DEC, they have a bit more of an idea as to whats going on in terms of non angling species.
i do know though if its on a reserve or national park you are not allowed to collect anything at all.

what galaxias are you interested in Juls?

[Juls]

Was hoping to get Galaxias Nigrostriata to keep together with the Salamanders.

It looks like trying to catch any near northcliffe is no go, since that whole area is national park,

Albany might be a option but not sure if the galaxias would be there,

I have found Galaxias Maculatus near dwellingup in the murray, but grow a bit bigger than i was looking for.

Juls

[keleherr]

theres Galaxias Nigrostriata in the canning

[Juls]

Upstream or downstream from the wier?

I didn't realise they where so far north.

Juls

[keleherr]

for clarification anything listed can NOT be collected by any means.

the following are not listed and can be caught on a line or with a small dip net (except in national parks)
NIGHTFISH Bostockia porosa
FRESHWATER COBBLER Tandanus bostocki
WESTERN PYGMY PERCH Nannoperca vittata
WESTERN MINNOW Galaxias occidentalis
JOLLYTAIL Galaxias maculatus

the following are listed as vulnerable (EPBC Act 1999/WA DEC)
BALSTON'S PYGMY PERCH Nannatherina balstoni


the following are listed as near threatened (IUCN)
SALAMANDERFISH Lepidogalaxias salamandroides
BLACK-STRIPE MINNOW Galaxiella nigrostriata
MUD MINNOW Galaxiella munda

the following are listed as ENDANGERD (WA DEC), CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (EPBC Act 1999)
TROUT MINNOW Galaxias truttaceus