Oxleyan Pygmy Perch Recovery Plan

Summary

Oxleyan Pygmy Perch

The Oxleyan pygmy perch is a small freshwater fish that has been listed as ‘endangered’ under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994. It has also been listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Oxleyan pygmy perch are irregularly distributed in small numbers in swamps, streams and lakes of lowland, coastal ‘wallum’ heaths between north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. These wallum heath communities once formed an almost continuous band along the eastern coastline from Coffs Harbour in northern NSW, to Bundaberg in southern Queensland. However, the practice of land clearing for urban development, agriculture, forestry and mining has significantly reduced and fragmented these habitats.

Oxleyan pygmy perch – with their limited distribution, rarity and dependence on specific habitats – are particularly vulnerable to a range of threatening processes. The most serious threat is habitat degradation and loss. Other potential threats include the presence of the introduced ‘plague minnow’ or mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, and the illegal capture of Oxleyan pygmy perch for aquariums.

The plan has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It complies with the revised Recovery Plan Guidelines for Nationally Listed Threatened Species and Ecological Communities 2002 and the Queensland Recovery Plan Procedural Guidelines (draft) 2005.

The plan is supported by a background paper containing information on the biology and ecology of pygmy perch, threats to the survival of the species and background information on the recovery planning process.

Recovery planning objectives and actions

This recovery plan contains 17 objectives to be achieved in 3 program areas:

  • Research and investigation,
  • Compliance and regulatory and,
  • Management.

The plan will be judged a long-term success if the status of Oxleyan pygmy perch is revised from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ on listings under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 and Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘near threatened’ under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 within 15 years.




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Published: 2005