Important disclaimer: The information in this article is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules, regulations, and permitted species lists change regularly. Always verify current requirements with your relevant state or territory authority before purchasing or importing fish. Laws and biosecurity rules were accurate at the time this article was published but may have changed since. LiveFish is not a legal adviser and accepts no liability for decisions made based on the information below.

Australia takes biosecurity seriously. More seriously than almost any other country in the world.

That's not bureaucracy for the sake of it. It's because Australia's aquatic ecosystems are genuinely unique, and many of our native fish and invertebrate species exist nowhere else on earth. An introduced pest species that establishes itself in Australian waterways can cause damage that is effectively permanent and irreversible.

For aquarium hobbyists, this means there are real rules about which species you can keep, which you can't, and what you need to do depending on which state or territory you live in. Most of these rules are sensible and straightforward once you understand the reasoning behind them.

This guide gives you the lay of the land: what the national rules are, what each state adds on top, and what it means practically if you're ordering fish online.

Why Biosecurity Matters for Fishkeepers

Before the rules, the reason.

Australia has no land borders. Every fish or aquatic plant that comes into the country from overseas goes through a national import process. The federal government maintains a Live Import List: a specific register of species that have been assessed as safe enough to bring into Australia for the aquarium trade. If a species is not on that list, it cannot legally be imported, full stop.

The reason for this is straightforward. Introduced species that establish themselves in Australian waterways can outcompete native fish for food and habitat, introduce diseases that native fish have no immunity to, and alter the ecology of river systems in ways that persist for generations. Species like carp are a well-known example of what goes wrong when this system fails.

The same logic applies at a state level. Each state manages its own waterways and has its own list of species it considers too risky to allow in, particularly species that could survive if accidentally released into local rivers, lakes, or dams.

As an aquarium keeper, your role in this system is simple: know what you're keeping, keep it properly, and never release aquarium fish, plants, or aquarium water into the environment. Not into waterways, not into drains, not into the toilet. Responsible disposal matters.

The National Picture: What Can Be Imported Into Australia?

Australia's national live import list is managed by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . All species on the list have been assessed against environmental, and biosecurity criteria before being approved. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry also apply a risk assessment on each species to determine if they are risk of introducing disease into the country.

The practical implication for hobbyists is that the fish you see for sale at LiveFish or any reputable Australian aquarium retailer are already on this approved list. They have been through the national process. You don't need to do anything special to keep them.

Where it gets more complex is at the state level.

State by State: What You Need to Know

Western Australia

WA has the strictest aquarium regulations in the country. This is partly because WA's aquatic ecosystems are extraordinarily diverse, with a high proportion of endemic species found nowhere else in the world, and partly because the state's relative isolation means introduced species can establish easily.

What WA customers cannot order from LiveFish:

• Live aquatic plants
• Snails
• Mussels
• Shrimp and crayfish
• Saratoga
• Lungfish
• Large-bodied eastern native fish

WA classifies certain non-endemic fish as "noxious" under state legislation, and penalties of $10,000 and above apply for possessing or releasing noxious fish. These restrictions exist because the deliberate or accidental release of aquatic plants and animals into WA waterways can lead to pest species establishing themselves in the wild, with devastating impacts on native species and the aquatic environment.

Non-native crustaceans, mussels, and shrimp are generally banned in WA unless explicitly permitted. Before purchasing or importing ornamental fish or crustaceans, you should verify their status on the Western Australian Organism List (WAOL).

The good news for WA customers: LiveFish pays the WA quarantine inspection fee on your behalf. You won't be billed for it. If you do receive a bill from WA Quarantine, contact LiveFish directly and the team will have it refunded. WA orders are prioritised for Monday shipping.

Some species not on the standard approved list, such as Barramundi, may be importable with a permit through WA Fisheries. If you're interested in keeping a species and unsure of its status in WA, contact WA DPIRD directly to check.

Northern Territory

NT customers require a permit before any fish or plants can be shipped to them. This is a free process managed through NT Fisheries, but it must be in place before LiveFish can release your order for shipping.

How the NT permit process works:

You apply online through the NT Fisheries Emperor Portal. If it's your first time using the portal, you'll need to create an account before applying. The dropdown list in the application only includes permitted species, so if a species doesn't appear on the list, it cannot be imported into the NT.

Before applying, it's worth checking these two resources:

• The NT-friendly aquatic plants
• The approved freshwater fish list available via the LiveFish NT permit page

Important timing note: NT Fisheries issues permits for a period of no more than two weeks. This means there are only a couple of shipping windows once your permit is approved. LiveFish strongly recommends placing and paying for your order first to reserve the stock, then obtaining the permit. If you get the permit first and then come to order, the fish you wanted may no longer be in stock.

Permits normally take around five working days to process, though the licensing office does get busy at times and it can take longer. For species queries that can't be added via the online system, contact NT Fisheries Licensing directly at [email protected] or call 08 8999 2144.

Once your permit is approved, email a copy along with your order number to [email protected]. The dispatch team will clear your order and it will ship on the next available day.

Tasmania

Tasmania has strict aquarium biosecurity rules in place to protect its unique cold-water freshwater fisheries, which include some of Australia's most prized trout fishing. The risk from imported fish is taken particularly seriously because many aquarium species can tolerate cool temperatures and could potentially establish in Tasmanian waterways if released.

What Tasmanian customers can order from LiveFish:

• Marine aquarium fish
• Dry goods and accessories

What Tasmanian customers cannot currently order:

• Freshwater fish
• Aquatic plants
• Freshwater shrimp, snails, and invertebrates

Only species listed on Tasmania's Permissible Imports List for freshwater aquarium fish are allowed into the state, and freshwater shrimp, snails and other invertebrates are not permitted to be imported into Tasmania at all.

The importation of freshwater aquarium fish into Tasmania is restricted to registered fish dealers under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995. If you are not a registered dealer and wish to bring fish when moving to Tasmania, you must secure a permit from the Inland Fisheries Service, and even with an exemption permit, fish could potentially be seized at the border by Biosecurity Tasmania.

The practical upshot for most Tasmanian hobbyists: marine fish and dry goods can be ordered freely. For freshwater fish and invertebrates, contact the Inland Fisheries Service to understand what's currently possible for your specific situation.

All Other States and Territories (NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, ACT)

Customers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT can order the full range of livestock available at LiveFish without state-specific permit requirements beyond the standard national framework.

Standard shipping applies: $22 flat rate anywhere in Australia, reduced to $11 for orders over $100, and free for orders over $150. Orders are shipped Monday through Thursday via Team Global Express air express. Most deliveries arrive within 24 hours.

The Universal Rules: What Every Australian Fishkeeper Should Know

Regardless of which state you're in, these rules apply to everyone.

Never release aquarium fish, plants, or water into the environment. This is the single most important biosecurity rule for hobbyists. Aquarium fish released into Australian waterways can introduce disease, outcompete native species, and establish invasive populations. This applies to drains, rivers, lakes, garden ponds that connect to stormwater, and even the toilet. Australian waterways are not a place to dispose of unwanted fish. Contact your local aquarium shop, LiveFish, or your state fisheries authority for advice on responsible rehoming or disposal.

Don't collect and mix wild-caught fish with your aquarium stock. Catching fish from local waterways and introducing them to your tank, or vice versa, is a disease and biosecurity risk. Wild fish may carry parasites and pathogens that can wipe out your aquarium stock. Tank fish released into the wild may do the same to native populations.

Check before you buy unusual or specialty species. The standard community fish you'll find at LiveFish are already assessed and approved. But if you're looking at rare cichlids, unusual native species, or anything less common, it's worth verifying their status in your state before purchasing. What's legal to keep in one state may not be in another.

Buy from reputable sources. Fish bought from reputable retailers like LiveFish have come through proper channels and are documented species. Fish from unverified sources, or imported without proper paperwork, may be illegally introduced species. Beyond the legal risk, they may also carry disease.

Responsible Disposal of Unwanted Fish

At some point, every hobbyist faces the question of what to do with fish they can no longer keep. Maybe a tank is being shut down, fish have outgrown the setup, or a species turned out to be incompatible with the rest of the tank.

The options, in order of preference:

Rehome them. Post in your local aquarium community group, offer them to a local fish shop, or find another hobbyist who wants them. This is always the best outcome.

Return them to a retailer. Many fish shops, can advise on rehoming options.

Euthanise humanely if necessary. Clove oil is the most commonly recommended humane method for fish euthanasia. Your local vet or fish shop can advise on the correct process.

Never flush, never release. Even if you think a tropical fish couldn't survive in Australian conditions, the risk is not worth taking. Warm-water discharge from industrial facilities, or milder winters in northern Australia, can give introduced species more chance than you'd expect.

A Note on LiveFish's DOA and Returns Policy

LiveFish offers a 100% live delivery guarantee on all livestock. If something arrives dead on arrival, photograph it in the sealed shipping bag and submit a claim within 24 hours via the LiveFish Claims Form.

Returns of live fish are not accepted due to the biosecurity and welfare risks involved in return shipping.

The Bottom Line

Australia's fish biosecurity system exists to protect something genuinely worth protecting. For the vast majority of hobbyists in most states, the practical impact is minimal: the fish you want are already approved, and the rules mainly ask you to buy responsibly and never release anything into the wild.

For WA, NT, and Tasmanian customers, there are specific restrictions that matter, and LiveFish's shipping policy reflects those state requirements. If you're unsure about whether a particular species is legal in your state, the safest approach is always to check with your state fisheries authority before purchasing.

If you have questions about what can be shipped to your location, the LiveFish team is happy to help. Email [email protected] or visit livefish.com.au/shipping-returns for full shipping and delivery information.