Priorities Action Statement - Draft actions for Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus vesper)

Advice to consent and determining authorities

Provide information on the distribution of the Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish to local councils and determining authorities to ensure appropriate consideration during development assessment processes or approval of other activities which may impact this species.

Compile existing information on Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish and identify critical knowledge gaps on the biology, ecology and life history of E. vesper and the impacts of identified threats (e.g. thermal tolerances, competition with E. armatus) for the purpose of targeting future research activities.
Collate data on the historical distribution of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish including anecdotal and indigenous knowledge.

Development of advisory material to help recreational fisheries distinguish common yabby and other Euastacus species from Euastacus vesper.
Implement education initiatives to improve awareness of the status of the Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish and ways to minimise impacts on the species by preparing and distributing appropriate advisory material.
Install signs and/or interpretive displays at appropriate locations to assist with identification and awareness of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish.
Liaise with local community groups and councils to encourage community reporting of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish via the NSW DPI Threatened and Pest Species Sightings Program online form.
Foster long-term, two-way knowledge transfer and capacity building to enhance the role of indigenous ecological knowledge in the recovery of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish.
Encourage community reporting of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish via the NSW DPI Threatened Species Reporting online form.

Ensure stocking of salmonids and other introduced fish species doesn’t occur in range of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish including in Dunn’s Swamp.
Maintain strict quarantine regulations/restrictions of import of crayfishes into Australia.
Maximise compliance activities at identified important sites.
Encourage community reporting of any illegal fishing activities via the NSW DPI Compliance reporting online form.

Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment, and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish habitats and water quality.
Prepare emergency response plan to guide management responses to extreme weather and climatic events such as bushfire, severe drought or flooding.

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish habitats and address key threats such as habitat degradation, stock damage and water quality decline (livestock access, weed spraying, land clearing, road crossing impacts etc).
Undertake priority rehabilitation, restoration and enhancement work at key sites known to support Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish populations.

Investigate and implement integrated management of introduced species in and adjacent to identified Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish habitats and take action to prevent the spread of introduced species into these habitats.

Investigate and implement ex situ conservation/translocation options to establish a separate subpopulation(s) in an area of viable habitat.
Implement the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Fishery Management Strategy to prevent significant impacts from stocking on Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish populations.

Establishment of population monitoring program to identify new subpopulations of the species (to determine contemporary geographic range) and threats to the species as well as track the trajectory of known subpopulations.
Conduct research on the biology and ecology and habitat preferences of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish, particularly the species' ecological role, environmental tolerances, factors influencing population dynamics, age and growth, life cycle and diet.
Undertake research to identify, prioritise and improve understanding of the threatening processes and causes of decline of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish.
Actively seek grants or investor partnerships to fund research and monitoring programs for Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish.
Monitor populations of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish over time to assess trends in abundance and distribution and to identify emerging threatening processes
Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish research and monitoring programs.
Obtain and analyse genetic material from remnant populations of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish to identify genetic diversity to inform conservation breeding or translocation.
Develop eDNA assays to support surveys to assess potential additional populations.

Conduct targeted surveys on the current distributions and abundances of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish.
Collect data on the presence/absence of Cudgegong Giant Spiny Crayfish during incidental surveys.
Undertake investigations/surveys to identify suitable habitat areas for translocations