Priorities Action Statement - Actions for Western Population of Olive Perchlet

Recovery Actions

Advice to consent and determining authorities

Provide information on the distribution of the Olive Perchlet to local councils and determining authorities to ensure appropriate consideration during development assessment processes (Low priority).

Collate and review existing information

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

Community and stakeholder liaison, awareness and education

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

Compliance / enforcement

Maximise compliance with the ban on collecting Olive Perchlet by communicating with aquarium enthusiasts using a number of communication mediums (e.g. aquarium industry journals, newsletters, conferences) (Low priority).

Enhance, modify or implement NRM planning processes to minimize adverse impacts on threatened species

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 Olive Perchlet habitats in NSW (Medium priority).
Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment, and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on Olive Perchlet habitats and water quality (Low priority).

Habitat rehabilitation

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential Olive Perchlet habitats and address key threats (Low 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 (Low priority).
Actively seek funds through grant schemes or other sources to implement riparian vegetation and water quality improvement projects in priority areas (Low priority).

Pest eradication and control

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

Research / monitoring

Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of Olive Perchlet research and monitoring programs (Medium priority).
Monitor populations of Olive Perchlet 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 Olive Perchlet (Medium priority).
Conduct research on the biology and ecology of Olive Perchlet, particularly the species' ecological role, environmental tolerances, factors influencing population dynamics, age and growth, life cycle and diet (Low priority).
Undertake research to identify, prioritise and improve understanding of the threatening processes and causes of decline of Olive Perchlet (Low priority).
Obtain and analyse genetic material from remnant populations of Olive Perchlet to identify genetic units to inform conservation breeding or translocation (Low 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 Olive Perchlet populations (Low priority).
Conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of translocation of adult fish compared to stocking of juveniles to inform future conservation actions (Low priority).

Stocking / translocation

Develop an emergency response policy to guide the collection and captive husbandry of Olive Perchlet. The policy should address the circumstances in which wild individuals may be collected, held and re-released, and identify holding facilities, potential funding sources and legal requirements (Medium priority).
Undertake emergency rescues of Olive Perchlet in response to droughts, oil spills/ pollution, detection of biosecurity threats (e.g. disease or pests), or to avoid imminent impacts in accordance with the emergency response policy (Medium priority).
Review and assess the potential of artificial refuge areas for the protection of Olive Perchlet (Medium priority).
Conduct targeted sampling at stocked sites to assess the status of stocked populations including growth and recruitment rates (Medium priority).
Identify potential candidate sites for possible future translocation of Olive Perchlet (Low priority).
Implement the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Fishery Management Strategy to prevent significant impacts from stocking on Olive Perchlet populations (Low priority).
Maintain and monitor translocated populations (Low priority).

Survey / mapping

Conduct targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of Olive Perchlet (Low priority).
Collect data on the presence/absence of Olive Perchlet during incidental surveys (Low priority).