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Turning pest into purpose: Invasive fish fertiliser project needs funding

A groundbreaking Queensland project that turns invasive fish into fertiliser – helping heal the Mary River and protect endangered species – is in limbo after its funding ran out. 

The Invasive Species Council is calling on state and federal governments to urgently back the Burnett Mary Regional Group and Kabi Kabi People’s Aboriginal Corporation to continue removing Mozambique Tilapia, one of Australia’s most damaging invasive fish.

This innovative ‘pest into purpose’ project transforms the problem species into fertiliser for riverbank restoration, supporting the recovery of icons like the Mary River Turtle, Mary River Cod and ancient Lungfish.

At just $4.35 million, it’s a small investment for a big win – restoring one of Australia’s most biodiverse river systems, supporting Traditional Owner-led land management and protecting species found nowhere else on Earth.

‘The Mary River is a biodiversity hotspot – it flows into World Heritage areas and supports some of Australia’s most remarkable species, including the Mary River cod and ancient Queensland lungfish. Projects like this are critical if we’re serious about protecting and restoring these unique river systems,’ Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta said. 

‘Removing Australia’s most damaging invasive fish is the first step to healing the Mary River. This project tackles the problem at its source – turning a pest into purpose and restoring balance to one of our most important waterways.

‘We’re urgently calling on state and federal governments to fund this shovel-ready project. It’s a small investment for a huge return – protecting a globally significant river, supporting Traditional Owner leadership and creating lasting environmental, cultural and community benefits.

‘Many environmental challenges struggle to find solutions, however this innovative project addresses all elements of the Mary River invasion, in a key partnership between traditional and modern management systems.’

Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) CEO Tom Espinoza, said:

‘We’ve shown this concept works and we are ready to scale it up.

‘This region is leading the way in finding practical solutions to invasive species,

‘With secure funding, we will build local processing capacity, work with Kabi Kabi to protect

culturally significant species and landscapes – the Mary River system will be more resilient.

Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC) CEO Susan Markey, said:

‘Our aspiration for this project is to protect Mary River Cod – it’s how we care for Country,

and by working with trusted regional partners, we ensure our younger generations are

invested in this work.

‘Tilapia and other invasive fish threaten cod, removing them, using various initiatives to restore habitat, and restocking will heal the river system and restore balance.

‘We want to rid our landscapes of invasive species and be the ones to lead this work looking

after Country.’

Media inquiries: (02) 8006 5004

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    Dear Project Team,

    [YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.] 

    I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.

    The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.

    The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.

    This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.

    Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.

    Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.

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    I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.

    Kind regards,
    [Your name]
    [Your email address]
    [Your postcode]


    Dear Project Team,

    [YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.] 

    I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.

    The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.

    The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.

    This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.

    Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.

    Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.

    Feral horses are trashing and trampling our sensitive alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals. The federal government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has stated that feral horses ‘may be the crucial factor that causes final extinction’ for 12 alpine species.

    I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.

    Kind regards,
    [Your name]
    [Your email address]
    [Your postcode]