Priorities Action Statement - Actions for the endangered Snowy River Population of River Blackfish

Recovery Actions

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

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

Encourage community reporting of River Blackfish via the NSW DPI Threatened and Pest Species Sightings Program online form (Medium priority).
Implement education initiatives to improve awareness of the status of the River Blackfish 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 River Blackfish (Medium priority).
Foster long-term, two-way knowledge transfer and capacity building to enhance the role of indigenous ecological knowledge in the recovery of River Blackfish (Low priority).

Maximise compliance activities at identified important sites (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 River Blackfish habitats in NSW (Medium priority).

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential River Blackfish habitats and address key threats (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 River Blackfish populations (High priority).

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

Conduct research on the biology and ecology of River Blackfish, 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 River Blackfish (High priority).
Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of River Blackfish research and monitoring programs (Medium priority).
Actively seek grants or investor partnerships to fund research and monitoring programs for River Blackfish (Medium priority).
Conduct research to establish the genetic variation between the southern and northern forms of river blackfish (Medium priority).

Implement the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Fishery Management Strategy to prevent significant impacts from stocking on River Blackfish populations (High priority).
Develop an emergency response policy to guide the collection and captive husbandry of River Blackfish. 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).
Identify potential candidate sites for possible future translocation of River Blackfish (Low priority).
Undertake emergency rescues of River Blackfish 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 (Low priority).
Review and assess the potential of artificial refuge areas for the protection of River Blackfish (Low priority).

Conduct targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of River Blackfish (High priority).
Collect data on the presence/absence of River Blackfish during incidental surveys (Medium priority).
Monitor River Blackfish population over time to assess trends in abundance and distribution and to identify emerging threatening processes (Medium priority).