Vital Research On Freshwater Fish Biodiversity Gets $850,000 Boost

Media Release
16 November 2009 52/2009

Vital research on freshwater fish biodiversity gets $850,000 boost

The State Government's Natural Resource Management (NRM) strategy is providing $850,000
for two research projects to assess and protect the biodiversity and sustainability of Western
Australia's native freshwater fish stocks.

Populations of most native freshwater species are fragmented and absent from many water
bodies.

Some native fish species are facing extinction, either already listed as critically endangered,
threatened or vulnerable, or under consideration for listing.

Department of Fisheries CEO Stuart Smith said the projects complemented each other and would
address key actions to assist in recovering these valuable native fish.

"A baseline field survey, from the Mid West to the South West, will provide critical information
needed to focus conservation, rehabilitation and restocking efforts on those native species and
water bodies at greatest risk," Mr Smith said.

"Following the survey, DNA testing of native fish populations will determine the most
appropriate genetic lines for restocking each region or catchment."

Mr Smith said the funding was part of more than $2.2 million ($2,235,000) in NRM funding that
would support effectively directed fisheries research.

"These particular projects will assist in preventing the extinction of critically endangered species,
conserve freshwater fish biodiversity and, through this, potentially help to control mosquitoes in
water bodies close to residential areas," he said.

"To capitalise on the survey and genetic work, infrastructure modifications will be made to
existing Department of Fisheries and University of Western Australia (UWA) facilities to
increase freshwater native fish production for restocking water bodies.

"Since the late 1990s, the Department of Fisheries has been working with UWA to develop
techniques for breeding and rearing several species of native fish."

The CEO said the infrastructure modifications would open the way to breed more species of
native fish, including the critically endangered trout minnow.

"In addition, the construction of an artificial stream and fish ladder, to enable stocked native fish
to return to the Pemberton hatchery for spawning will provide cost savings, public education and
tourism benefits," Mr Smith said.

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