A 34-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly trying to import a live fish - it was in a plastic bag, hanging around his neck.

The Vietnamese national was having his bags searched after arriving into Adelaide off a flight from Malaysia.

During that time he produced the bag containing the fish.

The fish was an endangered “Fully Red Asian Arowana”.

The fish had to be humanely euthanised because illegal imports of exotic animals can introduce diseases according to ABF.

The accused will appear in Magistrates Court on Wednesday 15 May.

In a statement, ABF Chief Superintendent, Regional Command SA, Brett Liebich said “The ABF is committed to stopping the trade in rare animals and protecting our delicate natural wildlife from the potentially devastating impact of foreign diseases and predators,”

The statement also said, "The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences under Australian law is 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $210,000 for individuals or up to $1,050,000 for corporations".