Giving our threatened fish a fighting chance
Two small but significant species of native freshwater fish are being brought back from the brink of extinction through ambitious and collaborative recovery programs. With the support of local landholders, landscape boards, and conservation groups, the programs are creating safe refuges, restoring habitats, and removing predators to help wild populations thrive.
Saving the southern pygmy perch
In Back Valley Creek, near Victor Harbor, Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu and Nature Glenelg Trust are working with local landholders to protect the genetically distinct, isolated population of southern pygmy perch, a small-bodied fish at risk of extinction.
Recent surveys in the area revealed that an estimated 90% of the population was confined to small, isolated pools -many of which were on the verge of drying out before the arrival of much needed rain. With habitat degradation, reduced water availability, and predation by invasive species threatening their survival, urgent intervention was essential
Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu’s Freshwater Ecologist, Tara Daniell explained in more detail.
“Our April surveys along Back Valley Creek gave us an indication of population size and distribution, providing a critical baseline. Between a degraded riparian and aquatic habitat, inclusion of invasive redfin and trout, and limited permanent pools available, the survival of this unique population was in real trouble,” she said
A dedicated recovery project is focusing on habitat restoration along the creek to improve water quality and vegetation, as well as installing livestock exclusion fencing and alternate stock water sources, to prevent further degradation by year-round stock access.
To ensure the species persisted through summer dry spells, and to allow for the removal of invasive fish species, strategic relocations have seen over 200 southern pygmy perch moved to safe surrogate dams owned by local landholders, including Back Valley’s Andrew Robertson.
While efforts to improve the creek line habitat is ongoing, it is hoped the number of fish in surrogate dams will increase. This would eventually enable their re-introduction to Back Valley Creek to boost wild populations and provide a safeguard against local extinction.
Andrew emphasised the importance of adapting these conservation strategies in response to environmental changes.
“Ensuring the survival of species via surrogate dams is a great way to go to protect threatened fish and is particularly important with the changing climate.”
Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu recently held a workshop with landholders at Andrew’s property, where Senior Ecologist Sylvia Zukowski from Nature Glenelg Trust gave a presentation on southern pygmy perch and other local native fish species, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about the project and visit a refuge dam.
The surrogate dam program aiming to save the southern pygmy perch is funded by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu through the regional landscape levy.
Threatened Murray hardyhead coming ‘Back from the Brink.’
Once widespread across the Murray-Darling Basin, the Murray hardyhead has experienced a dramatic decline due to habitat degradation and predation by introduced species. To protect this native fish, an existing breeding program is being expanded across multiple waterbodies and includes the provision of secure refuge sites in carefully managed surrogate dams on private properties.
With funding from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, the Back from the Brink Murray hardyhead program brings together partners including Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu, Nature Glenelg Trust, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and participating landholders.
Stay tuned in the coming months as the spring survey results are revealed and more landholders join as surrogate dam partners.
This funding also supports other threatened species, including the southern bell frog, hooded plover, and western beautiful firetail, each with their own story, projects and partnerships. Find out more at landscape.sa.gov.au/hf/backfromthebrink
The Back from the Brink project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust, and delivered by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
