The Japanese Sea Bass, Lateolabrax japonicus (Pisces, Percichthyidae), an Apparent Marine Introduction into Eastern Australia

Abstract

The Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus, is newly recorded from Australia, based on two specimens recently collected near Sydney.This large, commercially important species was presumably introduced into Australia through the ballast water of ships from the northwest P acific Ocean.The gobiid fish Tridentiger trigonocephalus was first recorded from Australia in 1973 as a presumed ballast water introduction into Sydney Harbour.This species has subsequently been collected from Melbourne and Perth, and found alive in the ballast water of an Australian ship.