Lake Clifton closed to fishing in order to protect black bream fish

4/10/96

Fisheries Minister Monty House today signed an order to close Lake Clifton to fishing in order to protect what could be a new species of black bream.

Mr House said analysis of bream from Lake Clifton by Murdoch University had shown physical differences that indicated the population may well be a previously undiscovered species or sub species that had adapted to the ecology of the lake over thousands of years. Further genetic testing would be carried out to confirm this.

It was not until a walkway was recently built at the lake by CALM that it was realised fish lived in the lake which has salt levels ranging between 14 and 30 per cent.

"Research of these black bream has shown they are morphological distinct from any of the bream examined from other estuarine systems in Western Australia," Mr House said.

"I have closed the lake as it is very important we protect this population until we have the opportunity to study these fish and their place in the ecology of the lake more closely.

"Their apparent tolerance to high levels of salt is precisely the attribute that is needed to successfully translocate into inland saline water bodies."

The Minister said it had been reported large numbers of the fish, most of which were ready to spawn, were being taken by anglers since the completion of the walkway.

These fish were exceptionally large and believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, indicating the population had probably never been fished before.

"The size of the bream population in the lake is unknown, but is likely to be small and consequently could be in danger of being seriously depleted by overfishing," Mr House said.

"The Mandurah Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee has fully supported this closure, and we are seeking community support to protect these fish."

Lake Clifton is a large 21km by one km shallow coastal saline lake located between Mandurah and Bunbury in the Yalgorup National Park.

It has previously been virtually inaccessible to anglers due to the shallow muddy shoreline and low water levels.

A combination of good winter rains and the installation of a platform to view the stromatolites at the northern end of the lake has allowed anglers ready access to the water.

This weekend, Fisheries Department officers and CALM staff will be conducting patrols around Lake Clifton to ensure that anglers are aware of the fishing ban and the need to protect these bream from further exploitation until further scientific studies can be conducted.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (09) 481 2044