Recreational anglers are being urged to report any sightings of an ulcerating syndrome in fish, after it was found for the first time in an inland New South Wales waterway.
Red spot disease is caused by a fungus and shows as deep ulcers or red lesions on the skin of infected fish.
It has been found on fish taken from the Darling River between Bourke and Brewarrina.
The Department of Primary industries' aquatic biosecurity manager, Jane Frances, says fish showing signs of the disease should not be eaten.
"Ulcerated fish shouldn't be kept by recreational fishers, they definitely shouldn't be eaten, and the more severe the ulceration, the less likely the fish is to survive," she said.
"We advise fishers to not return those fish to the water, they should be humanely killed, so chop their head off quickly and dispose of that to a land-based waste facility."
Ms Frances says recreational anglers who see signs of the disease on fish should report it.
"The challenge for us is this is quite an isolated area and we don't know the extent," she said.
"We know, we've confirmed it between Bourke and Brewarrina, but of course the Darling River System progresses to the Murray and we'd really appreciate it if fishers are out in those remote areas and they see suspicious or sick looking fish, if they could please report it."
Source: ABC
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