Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on December 16, 2010, 11:41:25 AM
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Got the hatchlings, now for the habitat
The endangered Macquarie perch have been bred for the first time in
captivity. Using a novel approach involving the construction of an
eartificial streamf scientists at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre led captive
perch into thinking they were in a natural environment and the fish
reached breeding condition. Dr Dean Gilligan from I&I NSW said the fish
used for the successful breeding program were from a remnant
population rescued from the upper Lachlan catchment after their habitat
was threatened by the recent introduction of redfin perch. Macquarie
perch populations began to crash in the mid 1900s, most likely due to
habitat degradation associated with river regulation, fish passage barriers,
land clearing and associated sedimentation and other forms of water
pollution. By the 1970s, Macquarie perch were considered to be seriously threatened with extinction and the
species has continued to decline. With this breakthrough, I&I NSW will look at using a conservation stocking
program in those parts of the Murray]Darling Basin where Macquarie perch populations are diminished or
have become locally extinct provided suitable habitat can be found or rehabilitated. This research has been
supported with funds from the Recreational Freshwater Fishing Trust. For more information see:
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/recent-news/fishing-and-aquaculture/world-first-breeding-breakthrough
Source: Newstreams publication
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So what are they calling macquarie Perch, I thought that was a southern name for bass.
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Binder, think well suntanned Silver Perch and you would be close. related to the Golden Perch, grows to about the same size as Silver and Goldens.
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I think that's a Jim Tait image. Would be interested in his thoughts in this info when he's back. :thumbsup