Local community group helping threatened native fish

NRM NEWS - MARCH 2020

By Josh Campbell
Land Services Officer

This week, 180 threatened southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis) were released into the Deniliquin lagoon system.

The release was part of the Deniliquin Lagoons Community Project, which began rehabilitation of the lagoons a decade ago, resulting in the restoration of vegetation and habitat on five wetlands.

Now that wetland habitat has significantly improved, the project is focusing on establishing breeding populations of native threatened fish species. Species include the southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis) purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa), olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizii) and the eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus). Today’s release was a significant step in achieving this goal.

Monitoring of the lagoons over the weekend revealed high numbers of young eel-tailed catfish, indicating that breeding occurred in both the 2018-19 and 19-20 summers. These fish were rescued from a drying lake system and are now thriving in their new home.

The project is a partnership between the Edward-Wakool Angling Association, the Deniliquin Kolety Lagoons Landcare Group, Deniliquin High School, NSW Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries and Murray Local Land Services.