Priorities Action Statement - Actions for Macquarie Perch

Recovery Actions

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

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

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

Maximise compliance activities at identified important sites (Medium priority).

Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment, and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on Macquarie Perch 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 Macquarie Perch habitats in NSW (High priority).

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential Macquarie Perch 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 Macquarie Perch populations (High priority).

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

Conduct research on the biology and ecology of Macquarie Perch, particularly the species' ecological role, environmental tolerances, factors influencing population dynamics, age and growth, life cycle and diet (High priority).
Monitor Macquarie Perch populations over time to assess trends in abundance and distribution and to identify emerging threatening processes (High priority).
Undertake research to identify, prioritise and improve understanding of the threatening processes and causes of decline of Macquarie Perch (High priority).
Actively seek grants or investor partnerships to fund research and monitoring programs for Macquarie Perch (High priority).
Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of Macquarie Perch research and monitoring programs (Low priority).

Implement the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Fishery Management Strategy to prevent significant impacts from stocking on Macquarie Perch populations (High priority).
Conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of translocation of adult fish compared to stocking of juveniles to inform future conservation actions (High priority).
Conduct targeted sampling at stocked sites to assess the status of stocked populations including growth and recruitment rates (High priority).
Develop an emergency response policy to guide the collection and captive husbandry of Macquarie Perch. 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 (Low priority).
Identify potential candidate sites for possible future translocation of Macquarie Perch (Low priority).
Undertake emergency rescues of Macquarie Perch 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 Macquarie Perch (Low priority).

Conduct targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of Macquarie Perch (Medium priority).
Collect data on the presence/absence of Macquarie Perch during incidental surveys (Medium priority).