Survey results indicate a healthy breeding population of Macquarie Perch

Dr Janet Pritchard, co-coordinator of the Native Fish Registry for the Murray Darling Commission, has recently been surveying the Macquarie perch populations in several waterways in the Murrindindi Shire. Janet and her team have worked closely with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and the Upper Goulburn Landcare Group (UGLG) to ascertain and monitor the population of native fish and platypus that live in the local streams.

During monitoring in the area, including two sites near the ---- wetlands, Janet has trapped and recorded the health of a young male platypus and several blackfish. Janet and her team were pleased to record and monitor adult and juvenile Macquarie perch, blackfish, a long necked turtle and native water rat, and a male and female platypus in one location along the --------Creek. Janet was heartened by the Macquarie perch populations in both rivers, recording various sizes from the very small to the very large – up to 1.2kg in the ------River. Macquarie perch are a protected species that must be released immediately. Heavy fines apply to anyone catching and not releasing these fish. “The survey results indicate a healthy breeding population of Macquarie perch. The re-vegetation works undertaken by many landholders in conjunction with the CMA are definitely helping to protect and enhance the habitat for these fish and platypus,” Dr Pritchard said.

Bruce Smith -(words blanked to protect fishing areas)

11:37 AM - 25/4/2007 - post comment

Great News

The great thing about this is that these rivers in question have trout in them and it just goes to clearly show that native fish and trout can co-exist, and are co-existing.

These two rivers (and may I suggest many more) are a bench mark to show that trout are not in any shape or form the cause to their decline. Because in these two rivers they're not declining.

It’s the degradation of our rivers that's at fault and Dr Janet Pritchard mentions this in the survey with the riverside improvement.

Bruce Smith.

Bruce Smith - 11:49 AM - 25/4/2007

Untitled Comment

Bruce, great report on Dr Janet Pritchard work within the CMA. It is also nice to have more evidence that trout are not the cause of native species decline. Often anglers debate this fact, do you know any other resources i can quote when asked why I stand by trout's innocence in this matter?

Anonymous - 9:54 PM - 27/4/2007

Other Resources

Yes another classic example is the Yarra River, it is a known fact that fish like Trout, Murray Cod, Macquarie Perch, and Black-fish co-exist in this river. There are also many rivers and streams in New South Wales where trout and native fish are co-existing.

Rick Keam wrote a scientific booklet or paper highlighting some interesting facts that show trout are not the main cause to native fish decline.

In Wayne Fulton’s scientific work- (Review of trout stocking in South Australia) one of his recommendation state- There is no sound reason why trout stocking should not continue in South Australia, plus other interesting facts.

The book written by (Tunbridge, Rogan, Barnham & Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute) lists all the rivers, stream, and impoundments that have trout and native fish co-existing, which is back up by the greatest proof in the fishermen’s eyes.


Regards.

Bruce Smith - 1:09 AM - 28/4/2007