Detail on box sparks alarm as eel released into Sydney Harbour
In Australia, releasing captive animals into the wild is strictly prohibited without a designated permit.
Several government agencies are investigating after an eel was spotted being released into Sydney Harbour from a box labelled "live seafood" that may have originated from the airport.
Footage taken over the weekend at Pyrmont, just a couple of kilometres west of the city's CBD, shows two women releasing the eel into the harbour, which is seen in a water-filled plastic bag being taken from a box with a Sydney Airport label on it. When questioned by a concerned member of the public over what the pair were doing, they told the onlooker it was "private" business.
Australia has some of the toughest biosecurity laws in the world, aimed at protecting our rich ecosystems from invasive species and harmful pests that have the potential to decimate the landscape, which is home to hundreds of thousands of native species only found here.
It's strictly prohibited to import any live fish into the country except with a permit for trade within the aquarium industry. It's these laws that triggered a reaction from a quick-thinking local who filmed the women releasing the eel into the sea, over fears it could be introduced or invasive.
Government authorities investigate report of mysterious eel
Yahoo News Australia contacted the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) with regard to the footage, though they weren't able to provide information over the eel's origins. The DPI said the federal government is responsible for biosecurity controls for airports.
When Yahoo questioned the Australian Border Force (ABF), it was also unable to provide a definitive answer over where the eel originated.
'Embarrassing' truth behind Aussie woman's alarming backyard find
Aussie town on alert after invasive pest with 'painful, venomous sting' found
The ABF was however able to reveal the box pictured in the video did travel domestically on a Virgin Australia flight, having been used to transport seafood. Though, they added, it was abalone being imported, not eels. Virgin Australia confirmed to Yahoo no live eels travelled domestically in the box.
The ABF pointed Yahoo in the direction of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), who are looking into the matter.
Social media users speculate
On social media, people speculated over what was occurring in the footage. Some branded the woman filming a "Karen" for interrupting the other two women, but others encouraged her to report her encounter. One person suggested the women may have been taking part in a Buddhist ritual that involves releasing captive animals into the wild, in the hope of receiving good karma in return.
The process, though likely well intentioned, has garnered controversy in recent years for its potential to result in a biosecurity disaster. Releasing captive animals into the wild is not only dangerous, it's often also not in the animal's best interest, experts have warned, with them unlikely to be able to survive on their own.
Eel expert weighs in, provides most likely answer
Lachlan McKinnon, fisheries scientist and eel expert, said that not only could releasing the eel into the harbour be a problem for native wildlife, but the water it was transported in could also have contained harmful bacteria.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, McKinnon said the animal involved was probably either a long or short fin eel, both native. While he explained it wouldn't have bred in Sydney Harbour, as eels prefer deeper waters to spawn, McKinnon discouraged any similar behaviour.
"If it came from somewhere else and it had bugs on it, or if there were translocated species with it, that's where you start to get into biosecurity issues," he said. "There is a commercial eel fishery in NSW. So if it was sold at the Sydney Fish Markets live (as most eels are) there's high probability it has come from NSW somewhere. In which case, it'd be a pretty low risk."
He added that generally Australia is "not a big consumer of eels" though there is "a market for them".
A spokesperson for Sydney Fish Markets confirmed the eel pictured was "a Longfin Eel (anguilla reinhardtii) based on colouration and body form."
Yahoo News Australia makes no suggestion the eel at Pyrmont was imported from overseas nor that any border security breaches occurred.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
