Conserving WA's native freshwater fish species

Research to help conserve threatened native fish species in the State's South-West was today announced by Fisheries Minister Norman Moore during his visit to the Department of Fisheries' research hatchery at Pemberton.

  • South-West native fish species targeted for research
  • Project helps fill critical knowledge gaps on habitat and migration patterns
  • NRM Program provides strategic grant for native fish issues

Research to help conserve threatened native fish species in the State's South-West was today announced by Fisheries Minister Norman Moore during his visit to the Department of Fisheries' research hatchery at Pemberton.


Mr Moore said research had shown native freshwater fish stocks were declining in many South-West water bodies.


"Three of the most threatened species are Trout Minnow, Balston's Pygmy Perch and the
Little Pygmy Perch, which are facing increasing pressures due to a variety of environmental factors," he said.


"Researchers will be working to establish their distribution and to estimate populations of each species.  They will also determine the migration patterns in different water systems and the areas critical to their survival, such as spawning habitats, larval nursery areas and summer refuges.


"This will help fill critical knowledge gaps relating to the ecology and future information requirements for the effective conservation of these species."


The Minister said $850,000 from the State Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program announced last month would be a strategic grant for a partnership of organisations and community groups working on native fish issues.


"The State NRM Program has made the conservation of native freshwater fish species a priority target," he said.


Mr Moore said the three-year project was due to start early in 2013.


"Department of Fisheries' researchers will work with a number of government agencies, educational institutions, non-government regional resource management organisations and community groups to deliver this project," he said.


"To implement a full risk analysis for each species, the project will also need to assess factors like water quality, salinity, impacts of feral fish, in-stream barriers and climate change.


"Once this work is done, it will help provide information for the assessment and implementation of appropriate management arrangements to protect these rare species and their habitats."


      Fact File

Minister's office - 6552 5400