This is an article by the Department of Fisheries

The Department of Fisheries’ "don’t dump that fish" campaign was launched in October by Western Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley. It is part of the Department‘s program to improve the State’s aquatic biosecurity defences.

The campaign is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the aquarium industry, and the Perth Cichlid Society. It is designed to raise awareness of the impacts of releasing unwanted aquarium fish, snails and plants into waterways, toilets, drains or the ocean. It will also provide advice on how to responsibly dispose of such unwanted pets.

To help spread the word, "don’t dump that fish" posters, brochures and fish bag stickers have been produced for aquariums retailers around the State.

“The wider community is a huge resource in the fight to prevent aquatic pests entering and establishing in WA. Industry-supported programs, such as this ‘Don’t dump that fish’ campaign, are powerful ways of engaging many people on aquatic biosecurity issues,” Professor Beazley said.

“With millions of fish being transported around the globe, importation of aquarium fish is potentially a major source of invasive species.”

“Given the difficulties in eradicating pests once they are established, the Department’s focus is on prevention by ensuring key stakeholders, such as the ornamental fish industry, have access to relevant information,” she said.

“Fish owners who no longer want their fish are encouraged to give them to other responsible owners or an organisation with an aquarium, or to seek advice from their local pet shop.”

“If you are unable to find a new home for your fish, or if the fish are sick or diseased, please dispose of them responsibly and humanely.”

Advice on how to dispose of them is included in the new brochure, which can also be found on the Department of Fisheries’ website at www.fish.wa.gov.au/biosecurity or visit www.kb.rspca.org.au and search using the term ‘humanely euthanase fish’.

Sightings of suspected aquatic pests should be reported to the department’s FISHWATCH service on 1800 815 507, or via email to biosecurity, or through the free WA PestWatchapp, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.

Pictured: Department of Fisheries Director General (Stuart Smith) with WA’s Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley at the campaign launch.

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV.
Aquatic Veterinarian | Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | President-elect WAVMA |
Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA. Mobile Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services for fish and other aquatic creatures.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Looking for more books? Check out this site.

Below is an email I received from a colleague and I thought I’d share.

R<><

Another Gladstone suppressed report has emerged.

http://www.westernbasinportdevelopment.com.au/media/pdf/Field%20investigatio
ns%20of%20the%20bund%20wall%20seal%20August%202012.pdf

Images in Gladstone Ports Corp. own report show clearly where huge amounts of harbour turbidity were coming from-not.

According to Queensland and Commonwealth Govt, the effect of dredging and disposal did not contribute to fish/turtle/dolphin health issues.

Really?

Yet the EIS said the dredgematerial to be dumped inside the bund would be too toxic to dump offshore….yet it was inadvertently released into harbour anyway through leaks.

Note that this took place within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Grahams Creek) and within the World Heritage Area- Gladstone Harbour.

Investigation of causes needs to be urgently re-opened so future developments have substantially greater protections put in place.

See table from EIS below which predicts metals release from resuspended sediments.

Note how closely metal releases resemble blood metal results of turtles sampled in July 2011. High arsenic, high cobalt.

http://www.westernbasinportdevelopment.com.au/media/pdf/Entox%20Report%20-%20Investigation%20of%20contaiminanr%20Levels%20in%20Green%20Turtles%20from%20Gladstone.pdf

Fish showed high aluminium in gills, crabs high copper/zinc in hepatopancreas

Yet we are to believe this was caused by a flood months earlier, and a few barra swimming downstream.

Anyone buying it?

Demand an full independent inquiry. Numerous developments are about to be signed off, with the confidence that nothing went wrong in Gladstone.

Q: What did the rayfish say to the shark?

A: I’m feeling a little flat today.

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV.
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383

Calls are coming in thick and fast with sick axolotls. Could it be to do with the weather getting warmer?

So, I’d like to draw your attention to one of my previous blogs about how to keep your water cool for the heat intolerant aquatic animals.

Check out the posts at this link.

See also, https://thefishvet.com/2013/06/10/fanning-springs-ive-found-heaven-on-earth/

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV.
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383

Have you ever consulted Dr Google on fish ailments, hoping to find the right treatment for your diseased fish?

Do you find yourself searching the the world of knowledge just to become more confused? … or even make you paranoid about what you’ve got?

You’re not alone. Many fish diseases are difficult to diagnose based on clinical signs and gross appearances alone. More frequently, water tests and microscopic examinations are required.

Check out the following pictures of diagnoses I’ve made. They have the same clinical presentation but the reasons for illness, and hence treatment plan, differs vastly.

To finish off, I’d like to refer you to this funny video on YouTube – click here.

I still get excited every time I get a book order. These are going to Canada.

You too can get your very own copies and other tools for fish vetting at
http://thefishvet.com.au/shop/shopping.html

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV.
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
E: thefishvet
P: +61 (0)421 822 383

The aim is to get the whitest, and firmest fillet.

“Tests taken on trawlers show that fish which recuperate for three hours prior to slaughter have a lot of blood in their musculature. The meat becomes red and not as appetizing for the consumer,” said Svalheim.

“It is important to map the onset of rigor as the fish should not be filleted while in rigor mortis.”

“This is because the risk of fillet gaping increases and, as a result, the fillets may be downgraded.”

Read more here.
http://www.undercurrentnews.com/2013/09/27/timing-cod-slaughtering-for-whitest-fillet/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=americas_newsletter_sept_27#.UkjBwJkayc3