Current projects on Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon
A season wrap for the population in Tenterfield
May 2022 - DPI Fisheries wrapped up the 2021/22 conservation stocking program for Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons (SPSG) in Tenterfield. The last 1,000 fish were released in May 2022, bringing the total stocked in the 2021/22 season to just over 20,000 fish!
The fish were bred at the DPI Fisheries Grafton hatchery from adult fish which were rescued during 2019/20. The fish were taken to the hatchery for safekeeping as part of the DPI Fisheries' response to the unprecedented drought, bushfires and floods.
Staff worked with local landowners and OzFish Tenterfield Chapter to identify suitable habitat in Tenterfield Creek, which is part of the SPSG's natural distribution. The fingerlings were released across five sites in the hope to boost the natural population which had suffered significant declines.
DPI Fisheries thanks all those involved, including the local land owners, OzFish Tenterfield Chapter and the hatchery staff for facilitating a positive outcome for this small but charismatic threatened fish.
Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon stocking in Tenterfield Creek (37 seconds)
Kings of the jungle at Dubbo now have Purple Spots
In an uncanny partnership, a population of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon are thriving in their new home, the moat surrounding the Lion Prides exhibit at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Over 70 fish were rescued from drying waterbodies in the Macquarie catchment in 2019 and placed in the newly created moat surrounding the Lion Prides exhibit at the zoo for safekeeping.
DPI Fisheries also enhanced the fish habitat by installing pipes and planting native aquatic vegetation to assist with breeding.
Recent monitoring by DPI Fisheries has found that the population has happily taken residence in their new home, and undergone multiple breeding events.
Fish from this population will eventually be returned to the wild once local conditions improve and a suitable waterway is identified.
Monitoring the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon population at Western Plains Zoo (1 min 9 secs)
Rescuing the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (1 min 12 secs)
Funding to help Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon in Buckinbah Creek
NSW DPI Fisheries was successful in securing a grant through the NSW Environmental Trust to improve Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon habitat and reintroduce rescued fish back to the natural waterway.
Buckinbah Creek was severely impacted during the 2019 drought. As conditions worsened and the creek was beginning to dry up, DPI Fisheries staff collected the remaining Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon and moved them into a waterway at Taronga Western Plains Zoo for safekeeping until conditions improved.
The grant will see the rehabilitation of 1.8km of the creek through the removal of invasive weeds, willows, sweet briar and elm. Endemic native vegetation will be planted in their place and fencing will also be installed on both sides of the creek to protect the riparian habitat.
Finally, some of the fish that have been living at the zoo will be released back into the creek at the completion of the project to help reestablish the natural population found in Buckinbah Creek.
A big thank you to the NSW Environmental Trust, OzFish and the local landowners who have collaborated on this project for real outcomes for threatened native fish!
Purple Spots for Inverell
Following the successful breeding program for Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons at Grafton, the Department has expanded the stocking program to the Inverell region. Approximately 3,500 fingerlings were released into Middle Creek and Sheep Station Creek in March 2022 to boost local population numbers. These locations will be added to the yearly stocking schedule and continue to be stocked for several years to come.
A return to Tycannah Creek
Tycannah Creek has been added to the yearly stocking locations for Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons. Over 4,000 fingerlings were released into the creek in March 2022 following the successful breeding season at Grafton hatchery. The population at Tycannah Creek was severely impacted during the peak of the drought in 2019, and it was feared that many fish were lost when the creek and its tributaries began to dry. This stocking program aims to reestablish the population of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon that once called Tycannah Creek home.
See Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon for more information about the species.
