news

Protecting threatened fishes in the South West Linkages Target Area

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 06:10:36 +0100

The project will directly assess and address current and future threats faced by south-western Australian endemic freshwater fishes such as climate change and feral fish within the target area. The project will use the Balston’s Pygmy Perch (BPP) fish species as a flagship species for conservation (listed as Vulnerable EPBC Act) and elevate its status to enhance public awareness of aquatic ecosystem issues.

Goals:

· To provide an updated distribution of BPP in the target area and determine the degree of population decline in wetlands and river sites from previously known existence (past 20 years) within the project area.

To identify dry-season refuge pools and all potential instream barriers to seasonal breeding migrations across key catchments to guide future management of current and future threats to BPP and other species.

· To prioritise barrier mitigation and the protection of key refuge habitats of the BPP (and other freshwater fish species) with the SWCC region.

· To enhance aquatic ecosystem health and reduce threats to BPP and other native aquatic fauna by undertaking targeted feral fish control at four strategic sites.

· Use Balston’s Pygmy Perch as a flagship species to promote the conservation of freshwater ecosystems across the SW region.

Tracking the movements of Black Bream and Sea Mullet

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:22:06 +0100

This collaborative project (with the Murdoch Estuarine Research Group, the Department of Fisheries, GeoCatch, Department of Water, City of Busselton) aims to determine the movement patterns and spatial and temporal distribution of the Black Bream and Sea Mullet within the Vasse Wonnerup system which has been the subject of regular fish kill events. Using an acoustic tracking approach that the FFGFHU has recently used to successfully track the movement patterns of large feral goldfish in the Vasse River, we will tag and track 30 individual Black Bream and 30 Sea Mullet by engaging the local recreational fishing community in a rod and line capture event.

The information gathered will be of direct benefit to environmental and fisheries managers in helping in the development of strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of future fish kill events such as more effective operation of the flood gates to facilitate fish passage during key migratory periods. The study is funded by the Western Australian Government through a State NRM Office community grant.

New study examining south-west Australia's aestivating fishes

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:21:06 +0100

The FFG is undertaking a new study that is examining the conservation status of the unique aestivating freshwater fishes of south-western Australia; the Gondwana relic known as the Salamanderfish (Lepidogalaxiidae salamandroides; the sole member of the Lepidogalaxiidae) and the Black-Stripe Minnow (Galaxiella nigrostriata; one of only three members of Galaxiella). These represent Western Australia's only two aestivating (survive in seasonally inundated systems by burrowing into mud) freshwater fish species. They are predicted to be severely impacted by ongoing rainfall and groundwater level reductions as their lifecycle directly depends on accessing groundwater during the dry summer months. The study will determine the current distribution and population viability of the Salamanderfish and Black-stripe Minnow, use the data to update their threatened status, and conduct a community education campaign on these and other unique species.

The study is funded by the Western Australian Government through a State NRM Office community grant and is partnered by the Blackwood Basin Group.

Australia's newest freshwater fish!

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:24:59 +0100

The Little Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca pygmaea sp. nov.) was officially named in Zootaxa on April 12th 2013.

To find out more go to http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/z03637p411f.pdf

Barry Jonassen Award

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 02:49:12 +0100

Congratulations to Jon Murphy for winning this years Barry Jonassen Award at the Australian Society for Fish Biology Annual Conference in Adelaide for his project

The molecular phylogeography of freshwater fishes in south-western Australia

http://www.asfb.org.au/awards/Research-Awards/B_Jonassen.htm

New! Final NRM Report on aquatic fauna in the Serpentine River

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:35:48 +0100

This project was funded under the 2009/2010 regional and community groups funding round for Natural Resource Management by the Government of Western Australia, Lowlands Conservation Association and Serpentine River Group which addressed aquatic biodiversity, Biosecurity and Water Quality within the largest privately held conservation property in Southwestern Australia. The project was the first of its kind to examine the biology and ecology of the threatened Carter’s Freshwater Mussel. Key findings showed that several species of native freshwater fish, including the threatened Pouched Lamprey, Carter’s Freshwater Mussel and the iconic Smooth Marron are using the Bush Forever site as a key spawning ground and nursery within an area of the Serpentine River surrounded by land impacted by human activities. It also showed the benefit of conserving riparian vegetation to shade the river providing thermal refuges for aquatic fauna. For example, there was up to a seven degree (°C) difference in water temperature between sites within the conservation block and degraded sites within an open, weedy drain and the trees and woody plant debris enhanced native fauna habitat. Management activities by the landowners are reducing impacts through restricting cattle movements by fencing and restricted access to the river, installing riffles for stream oxygenation and re-planting riparian vegetation to reduce nutrient loads within the system.

Climate Change and its Implications for Australia's Freshwater Fish

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:13:11 +0100

The Freshwater Fish group recently contributed to a collaborative journal paper (Morrongiello et al. 2011) that reviews the implications of climate change for Australia's freshwater fish. The paper, which brought together a range of scientists from throughout Australia, predicts that many regions of the continent, particularly south-western Australia, face a dire threat due to reduced rainfall and more extreme temperatures. It concludes that existing anthropogenic impacts need to be better addressed to help Australia's fish be more resistant and resilient to the impacts of these predicted changes.

New Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Crayfishes and Mussels of South-western Australia

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:50:34 +0100

NEW Field guide, brochures and documentary series on south-west fishes, crayfishes and mussels! This Lotterywest funded project draws upon our decades of research in the south-west. The project was managed by South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare and co-authors include Quinton Burnham from Edith Cowan University. The first underwater documentaries of south-western Australian fauna forms a facinating part of this project which was undertaken by Enfusion Films (filmed by Ash Ramsay). Copies of the guide are available from SERCUL.

Freshwater Fish Group CFFR obtains funding for Pearl Cichlid research and to aid in their control

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:46:31 +0100

The Freshwater Fish Group has been successful in receivomg State Government NRM funding to continue the collaborative project (with funding partners Swan River Trust and the City of Swan) tackling the infestation of the South American Pearl Cichlid in Bennett Brook (Swan River catchment). The project, that will be guided by the Pearl Cichlid Management Group that also includes representatives from Department of Fisheries, Department of Water, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Planning and Infrastructure, South East Regional Centre of Urban Landcare, and the Perth Cichlid Society) will complete a full year analysis of the biology of the species to determine its impact, determine if it is self-maintaining in other systems, and help to implement a containment and eradication program.

Boom in Freshwater Sawfish pups in the Fitzroy River!

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:42:58 +0100

The Fitzroy River is experiencing a boom in baby sawfish. David Morgan, Senior Research Leader in the Freshwater Fish Group at Murdoch University said that the numbers of baby (new born pups) sawfish in the Fitzroy River is unprecendented.

To put it into context, Team Sawfish caught more baby sawfish in one pool in 2 hours last Thursday (2 June 2011) night than they did in all the years between 2001 and 2006 combined.

The Team has been tagging sawfish since 2003 with almost 400 sawfish tagged to date. The Team, which found the record numbers of sawfish pups, was comprised of Murdoch's Freshwater Fish Group and the Nyikina-Mangala Rangers.

They are off to Fitzroy Crossing next where other community Team members have also reported numerous small sawfish. David it is exciting times for sawfish research and is glad that the State NRM funded the current project, which is the longest freshwater fish monitoring project in Western Australia's history. If unfunded, we would not have had the data to support the 'boom' and it may have gone unnoticed. He also noted that the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, the Australia and Pacific Science Foundation and National Geographic has recently contributed some funds to support Endeavour Fellow Dr Adrian Gleiss to be involved in the project.

David also revealed that the 'boom' is likely a result of a good wet season, that has also seen the cherabin returning after a long absence and barramundi are recruiting well, although all are being trapped below the Barrage where they are predated on by Bull Sharks and crocodiles.

There is a need for the public to report it if they catch a tagged sawfish, you can now report it online; just follow the Team Sawfish link and help protect this endangered species. Sawfish are protected in Western Australian waters.