Priorities Action Statement - Actions for the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon

Recovery Actions

Provide information on the distribution of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon to local councils and determining authorities to ensure appropriate consideration during development assessment processes (High priority).

Compile existing information on Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon and identify knowledge gaps for the purpose of targeting future research activities (Medium priority).
Collate data on the historical distribution of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon including anecdotal and indigenous knowledge (Low priority).

Encourage community reporting of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon via the NSW DPI Threatened and Pest Species Sightings Program online form (Medium priority).
Implement education initiatives to improve awareness of the status of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon and ways to minimise impacts on the species by preparing and distributing appropriate advisory material (Medium priority).
Install signs and/or interpretive displays at appropriate locations to assist with identification and awareness of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Low priority).
Foster long-term, two-way knowledge transfer and capacity building to enhance the role of indigenous ecological knowledge in the recovery of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Low priority).

Maximise compliance with the ban on collecting Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon by communicating with aquarium enthusiasts using a number of communication mediums (e.g. aquarium industry journals, newsletters, conferences) (High priority).
Maximise compliance activities at identified important sites (Medium priority).

Incorporate new research information into catchment management, river health and wetlands programs where appropriate (High priority).
Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment, and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon habitats and water quality (High priority).
Implement relevant State policies and programs (e.g. the NSW Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy) in an effort to reduce water pollution (particularly chemical pollution from agricultural pesticides) impacts on Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon habitats in NSW (Medium priority).

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon habitats and address key threats such as habitat degradation and water quality decline from expanding development (High priority).
Allocate and manage environmental water flows in regulated rivers to restore natural seasonal flow patterns, and to reduce the impact of cold water downstream of dams (High priority).
Actively seek funds through grant schemes or other sources to implement riparian vegetation and water quality improvement projects in priority areas (High priority).
Undertake priority rehabilitation, restoration and enhancement work (e.g. rehabilitating riparian vegetation, cold water pollution reduction measures, reinstating large woody debris, removal of barriers to fish passage, removal of willows from riverbanks, sediment and erosion control measures) at key sites known to support Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon populations (High priority).

Investigate and implement integrated management of introduced species in and adjacent to identified Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon habitats and take action to prevent the spread of introduced species into these habitats (Medium priority).

Conduct research on the biology and ecology of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon, particularly the species' ecological role, environmental tolerances, factors influencing population dynamics, age and growth, life cycle and diet (High priority).
Undertake research to identify, prioritise and improve understanding of the threatening processes and causes of decline of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (High priority).
Obtain and analyse genetic material from remnant populations of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon to identify genetic units to inform conservation breeding or translocation (High priority).
Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon research and monitoring programs (Medium priority).
Monitor populations of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon over time to assess trends in abundance and distribution and to identify emerging threatening processes (Medium priority).
Actively seek grants or investor partnerships to fund research and monitoring programs for Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Medium priority).

Conduct targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (High priority).
Collect data on the presence/absence of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon during incidental surveys (High priority).

Conduct targeted sampling at stocked sites to assess the status of stocked populations including growth and recruitment rates (Medium priority).
Conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of translocation of adult fish compared to stocking of juveniles to inform future conservation actions (Low priority).
Identify potential candidate sites for possible future translocation of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Low priority).
Maintain and monitor translocated populations (Low priority).