New digs for native fish in the Talbragar River

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New digs for native fish in the Talbragar River

09 Sep 2013 -  NSW DPI

A resnagging project, partly funded by Recreational Fishing Trust Fish Habitat Action Grant, has rebuilt the homes for native fish in the Talbragar River, near Dunedoo in the State’s Central West.
The Dunedoo Coolah Landcare Group, with assistance from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), implemented the Talbragar River resnagging project.

DPI Habitat Action Grants coordinator Charlotte Jenkins, said the project was not as simple as throwing a few sticks in the river.

“Using an excavator with a log grab 26 trees and 15 stumps were installed into the Talbragar River at Cobbora, near the township of Dunedoo to make five snag complexes – homes for native fish,” Ms Jenkins said.

“The Landcare group also educated school children on the importance of fish habitat via a field day and encouraged them to make more future woody habitat for fish by planting longstem red gum tube stock on the river banks.

“Instream structure such as snags, tree roots and instream vegetation is essential for native fish as it provides refuge areas, a place to breed, to lay eggs and even territorial markers.

“The Murray Cod has been shown to travel hundreds of kilometres upstream and then return to the very same snag.

“Thousands of snags were removed from NSW rivers in the past, so re-snagging projects which put this vital habitat back are key to helping our native fish to flourish.”

Dunedoo Coolah Landcare Coordinator, Simon Ferguson said this project will be instrumental in improving the health of the Talbragar River and would not have been possible without the support of the Habitat Action Grant.

“Not only will it improve habitat for local species, it has also engaged the community and increased their awareness about the health of the river and the sorts of activities that we can all do to improve it,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This project has provided an important stepping stone of improved habitat for our native species.

“Many of our large native fish are predatory and will prey on young carp. By installing snags back into the river, we are improving the habitat available to our native species, hopefully swinging the balance back towards our native fish.”

Habitat Action Grants of up to $40,000 each are now available for recreational fishers, local Councils, conservation groups and individuals to improve fish habitat in their local areas and help to make more fish.

“I would like to encourage private landholders, fishers and community groups to think about how they can improve their local waterway, to help benefit fish habitat for healthy fish populations,” Ms Jenkins said.

“It’s a good idea if individuals and groups plan their project, identify a habitat issue and decide on how you want to tackle it.”

For advice on the Habitat Action Grants and assistance with project planning contact fish.habitat@dpi.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6626 1107.

Applications close on Friday, 27 September 2013 at 5pm.
Image: An excavator positions a log in the Talbragar River