Review of live marine ornamental fish import policy

We have prepared a revised draft report for the Review of live marine ornamental fish import policy, for public consultation.

We have made important changes to reflect stakeholder feedback on the draft report. To ensure the final report is fit for purpose and effectively identifies and manages associated biosecurity risks we are seeking your feedback on the revised draft report.

About this review

We initiated the Review of live marine ornamental fish import policy in response to trade enquiries, new scientific knowledge, and advances in marine ornamental fish aquaculture.

Current policy only permits the import of marine ornamental fish harvested from the wild. Captive bred ornamental fish are currently not permitted.

The review assesses the biosecurity risks of importing live marine ornamental fish sourced from all populations (wild and captive bred) and all countries. Seven hazards of biosecurity concern for fish included on the department’s List of permitted live marine ornamental fish were identified. Biosecurity measures to manage the identified biosecurity risks have been proposed.

This review was initiated as an import risk analysis of existing policy. Pending the outcomes of this review, current import conditions for marine ornamental fish remain in place. During this time, the relevant import conditions may be amended if the biosecurity risks change.

Current import conditions for wild-caught marine ornamental fish are available on our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON). 

Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.

About the revised draft report

In preparation of the revised draft report, we considered:

• current scientific information
• international standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
• advice from international scientific experts
• relevant industry practices and operational practicalities
• stakeholders feedback on the draft report (for more information see Animal Biosecurity Advice 2024-A10).

The revised draft report details:

• disease agents of biosecurity concern for fish included on the department’s List of permitted live marine ornamental fish
• risk assessments for the identified disease agents of biosecurity concern
• proposed biosecurity measures.

The revised draft report proposes the following:

• Live marine ornamental fish sourced from both wild and captive bred populations will be permitted to import into Australia, subject to compliance with biosecurity measures.
• Four genera on the department’s List of permitted live marine ornamental fish will be subject to Megalocytivirus pagrus1 specific biosecurity measures. These are specifically:
  • Chaetodermis sp. (leatherjacket)
  • Platax spp. (batfish)
  • Pomacentrus spp. (damselfish)
  • Pterapogon sp. (banggai cardinalfish).
• M. pagrus1 susceptible species (both wild caught and captive bred) will be subject to the following import conditions, consistent with those in place for M. pagrus1 susceptible freshwater ornamental fish:
  • Fish must be sourced from a country, zone or compartment free of M. pagrus1; OR
  • Fish must be batch tested, with negative results, for M. pagrus1.

Steps to complete this risk analysis

When we do a risk analysis, we:

• review the science on pathogenic agents associated with species listed on the department’s List of permitted live marine ornamental fish suitable for import
• assess and analyse biosecurity risks
• develop proposed biosecurity measures
• consult stakeholders on the draft report and then review comments
• consult stakeholders on the revised draft report and then review comments
• publish the final report
• develop import conditions
• publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).

Next steps

Public consultation on the revised draft report will close at 5pm AEST Monday 03 August 2026.

After this we will:

• consider all comments on the revised draft report
• publish the final report.

We will carefully consider all comments when preparing the final report and developing biosecurity measures, including working with our trading partners to implement the final import conditions.

Contact the Aquatic Biosecurity Risk Assessment (ABRA) unit at abra@aff.gov.au for more information. ABRA will circulate periodic updates and relevant information during the review.