Locals and visitors will have the chance to learn more about Macquarie perch and the efforts underway to save the endangered native fish species.
Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny today visited SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium to officially open the new Macquarie perch display – which is aimed at raising awareness of the captive breeding research required to re-establish the species in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The display is also the latest collaboration between the Andrews Labor Government and the aquarium to bring the species back from the brink.
The species historically supported popular and productive fisheries, but factors including barriers to fish migration and habitat destruction have since restricted them to a handful of populations that have been impacted by bushfires, reduced flows and introduced species.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s hatchery at Snobs Creek is playing a key role in the recovery effort of the species, having produced a record number of 145,000 Macquarie perch fingerlings last summer, which were stocked into six northeast waterways including the Ovens, Goulburn, King and Buffalo rivers.
Efforts also continue to bring back other threatened small bodied native fish, with the constriction of a $2.8 million conservation hatchery at Snobs Creek to focus on purple spotted gudgeon, galaxiid species from Gippsland and South Gippsland spiny crayfish.
The facility is being built in partnership with the Commonwealth Government and is expected to be complete in autumn 2023. It will also feature state-of-the-art equipment, such as recirculation systems.
The story of Macquarie perch and the combined recovery efforts has been captured in a short cinematic film which is currently being featured at the Cannes Short Film Festival in France.
To learn more and to watch the film visit:
Quote attributable to Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny
“We’re encouraging locals and visitors to learn more about Macquarie perch – and this display will highlight the efforts being made, as well as raise even more awareness of the research required to save the endangered native fish species to ensure they are around well into the future.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt
“It’s great to see these combined recovery efforts underway for Macquarie perch, as well as this display at the aquarium to provide locals and visitors with an insight into what’s needed to bring the fish species back from the brink.”
Quote attributable to SEA LIFE Melbourne Curatorial Supervisor Sam Fawke
“We are proud to be supporting the recovery of Macquarie perch by displaying and caring for this ambassador population.”
Reviewed 29 August 2022