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Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style Habitat makes fish happen! Luke Pearce Fisheries Manager Greater Murray Outline Status of Native Fish in the Murray Darling Basin Status of Native Fish in the
Luke Pearce Fisheries Manager Greater Murray
Current levels are estimated at 10% of pre European settlement
26 of the 46 native species in the Basin are now recognised as
either rare or threatened on state, territory or national listings. So
Without intervention, it is predicted to fall to near 5% in the coming
40-50 years.
11 Alien species which comprise 80-90% of fish biomass at many
sites.
Localised extinction of some native species
Fish community in the Murrumbidgee catchment is severely
8 of the 21 native species which previously existed in the
89.84% of the total biomass is made up of alien species. Without substantial intervention, the status of fish species
Habitat modification – Erosion and Sedimentation – De-snaging – Degradation of the riparian vegetation – Loss of aquatic plants
Modification of natural river flows – Dams, weirs, road crossings – Altered flow patters – Reduced floodplain and wetland inundation – Thermal Pollution – Water extraction – Water quality decline
Non Habitat related – Predation, competition and disease from introduced species – Fishing pressure commercial and recreational
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1 2 3 4 5
age fish per hectare
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1 2 3 4 5
age fish per hectare
Yanco system has some fantastic habitat High conservation value Current flow regime has developed a specific
At least 4 threatened species Part of an Endangered Ecological Community Huge potential for recovery Fish populations won’t recover without our
Loss of connectivity/fish passage Reduced natural flow variability Reduced natural ques Loss of flow hydrodynamics/flowing water
Increased weir pool inundations Changes to current ecological character
Section 199 – Under s199 of the FM Act, the Minister for Primary Industries is required to be consulted over any dredging or reclamation works carried out, or proposed to be authorised, by a public authority (other than a local government authority) (i.e. any excavation within, or filling or draining of, water land or the removal of woody debris, snags, rocks or freshwater native aquatic vegetation or the removal
harms these in-stream habitats). Section 219 – permit to obstruct the free passage of fish Section 218 - provide fish passage on the modification, or installation of dams and weirs
Determine the impacts and mitigation
Threatened Species Test of Significance A finding of Significance then requires a