Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on April 05, 2012, 10:33:49 PM
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The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Small Business
MEDIA RELEASE
1
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
MACQUARIE PERCH BREEDING PROGRAM ACHIEVES A NEW HIGH
The road to recovery for the endangered Macquarie perch has taken a turn in the right direction with the release of 7500 fingerlings in the upper Lachlan catchment near Oberon, Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said today.
“This release of these fingerlings is the result of the successful world-first captive breeding program at the NSW Government’s Narrandera Fisheries Centre,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“The NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) researchers have built on their experiences when they first bred a batch of the endangered Macquarie perch in late 2010.
“While researchers are still trialling alternative hatchery techniques, they managed to produce a considerable number of larvae this year which had almost 100 per cent survival.
“This has resulted in a massive leap in the numbers of Macquarie perch fingerlings being released into the wild, going from just hundreds last year to over seven thousand this year.
“This is a significant milestone in the revival of the endangered species that has only been made possible after years of research by the committed team involved with the project.”
Money from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust is used to fund the Macquarie perch rescue and captive breeding project.
Ms Hodgkinson said NSW DPI researchers will conduct surveys to determine the survival rate of the newly released fish, while also monitoring the population of Macquarie perch that the broodfish came from.
“The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority has assisted to create a safe haven for these little Macquarie perch to grow up in, and hopefully establish a viable population.
“The refuge has been carefully chosen to not only have all of the habitat features that Macquarie perch require, but a waterfall to stop the invasion of redfin perch, which are known to prey upon and compete for food resources with the Macquarie perch,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
Ms Hodgkinson said the next aim for NSW DPI researchers is to have the broodfish spawn by themselves in an artificial stream located at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre.
“Researchers will continue to learn more about spawning conditions in the wild so they can be replicated in the artificial stream on-site at Narrandera.”
Local angling representative body, the Central Acclimatisation Society (CAS) Honorary Secretary, Karl Schaerf said the society was a long time supporter of native and threatened fish species in the region and was delighted when notified of this latest achievement.
“Without doubt, this is one of the most remarkable achievements in fisheries conservation in Australia and it deserves to be recognised as such,” Mr Schaerf said.
“On behalf of CAS, and all anglers and conservationists concerned about the likely extinction of our native species, our sincere thanks to all involved for bringing back, from the verge of possible extinction, this unique and delightful little fish.”
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Yahoo !! That is so cool :youbeauty LOve Maccas, look forward to the day they're back where they should be!!
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Thats interesting, they saying they will breed in fresh?