KNOW your fish is the advice from the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
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There are currently 24 aquatic species listed as threatened in NSW from both marine and freshwater environments.
"A species is listed as threatened when its numbers have declined to a point where it is at risk of becoming extinct.
"Some of our threatened fish look very similar to other fish which are not listed as a threatened species so its very important that all fishers know which species of fish they have caught and which they can legally keep," said DPI Senior Conservation manager Dr Trevor Daly.
"For example banded rockcod can be legally caught whereas both black rockcod and esturary cod are protected and must be released without harm.
"Similarly two species of hammerhead sharks, the great hammerhead shark and the scalloped hammerhead shark are listed as threatened in NSW however the smooth hammerhead shark is still legal to catch."
Dr Daly said it was also important to know the differences between species such as trout cod (threatened) and Murray cod and Murray crayfish (threatened) and yabbies and to be aware of local fishing rules and closed seasons when fishing in certain inland rivers.
"It is illegal to take, harm or possess threatened or protected species," said Dr Daly. "If caught they must be returned carefully to the water."
The DPI has a number of resources to help fishers identify fish species. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries
