Current projects on Southern Pygmy Perch
Rescues and conservation stocking
DPI has commenced conservation stocking of Southern Pygmy Perch into a tributary of the Murray River close to Coppabella Creek. Over 250 fish (including some gravid females) that were rescued from Coppabella Creek during the drought in 2019 were released at this new site in 2020/21 which is located within a national park. Further stocking at the site is planned with the aim of establishing a new Southern Pygmy Perch population in southern NSW.
DPI has also been working with the Edward-Wakool Angling Association, Murray Local Land Services and local community members to attempt to establish a new population of Southern Pygmy Perch in the Deniliquin Lagoons. During 2020-21 a total of 1,000 Southern Pygmy Perch were released at this site. The fish were bred at Middle Creek Hatchery in Victoria from broodstock collected by DPI from drying pools in Coppabella Creek in NSW during the 2019 drought.
Watch a video of Southern Pygmy Perch stocking into Deniliquin Lagoons (15 seconds)
Carp contained in Coppabella Creek to protect threatened Southern Pygmy Perch
Coppabella Creek in southern NSW is home to one of only a handful of populations of the threatened Southern Pygmy Perch remaining in NSW. A small weir on the upper reaches of the creek protects these little fish from nasty alien fish like Redfin Perch and Carp.
This weir was damaged by high flows over the past winter and was no longer providing an effective barrier to these alien fish. If left unremedied, these alien fish would likely move upstream and decimate the Southern Pygmy Perch population.
Emergency repair works were carried out on the weir to ensure it continues to protect this important population of pretty little Southern Pygmy Perch.
This work was funded by the MDBA through the Native Fish Recovery Strategy.
See Southern Pygmy Perch for more information about the species.
