The Action Plan for Australian freshwater fishes
R. Wager and P. Jackson
Environment Australia, June 1993
ISBN 0 6421 6818 0
Recovery outlines (continued)
Species recovery outline: Macquarie Perch
Family: Percichthyidae
Scientific name: Macquaria australasica
English name: Macquarie Perch
Species taxonomic status: Formally described by Cuvier, in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1830. Preliminary studies by Shaklee and Keenan, in Dufty (1986), found fixed allelic differences between fish taken from west of the Great Dividing Range and fish taken from the lower Shoalhaven River System, east of the Great Dividing Range. Collaborative studies between the University of New South Wales and New South Wales Fisheries Department (Dufty 1986) revealed further allelic differences, and major meristic and morphometric differences. Dufty concluded that three stocks existed: populations from west of the Great Dividing Range; populations from the Hawkesbury River; and populations from the lower Shoalhaven River. These stocks may prove to be separate taxa.
Species survival status: Distribution has severely decreased since European settlement.
- Action plan status: Poorly Known.
- Australian Society for Fish Biology status: Indeterminate.
- Proposed new IUCN criteria status: Vulnerable (interaction with introduced species, habitat alteration).
Former distribution: Widely distributed throughout the cooler reaches of the Murray-Darling Drainage in New South Wales and Victoria. Also known from some coastal drainages in south east mainland Australia.
Current distribution: Three stocks are currently recognised:
- Shoalhaven stock (east of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales). Possibly limited to the lower reaches of the Shoalhaven River System. Formerly common in the Tallowa Dam, but recent sampling indicates this population has declined dramatically. Now believed to be restricted to a 20 km section of the Kangaroo River.
- Hawkesbury stock (east of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales). Appears to be widespread in the Hawkesbury River System. Large populations occur in the Nepean River.
- Murray-Darling stock (west and north of the Great Dividing Range). Known from the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan Rivers in New South Wales and from the Loddon, Goulburn (Seven Creeks), Ovens, and Mitta Mitta Rivers in Victoria. In addition several impoundments in the Shoalhaven and Hawkesbury River Systems have been stocked with fishes apparently from the Murray-Darling stock. Stockings have also occurred in the Wannon, Barwon and Yarra Rivers.
Habitat: A riverine, schooling species. Prefers deep, rocky holes with considerable cover. Spawning occurs just above riffles (shallow running water). Populations may survive in impoundments if able to access suitable spawning sites.
Reasons for decline:
- Interaction with introduced species:
- brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and redfin (Perca fluviatilis) may prey on juveniles.
- competition for food resources with trout.
- Increased catchment erosion leading to siltation of spawning sites, destruction of invertebrate fauna (food source) and infilling of deep holes.
- Increased nutrient loads associated with urban development (septic systems, fertilisers, etc).
- Over exploitation due to recreational fishing.
- River regulation and water extraction.
Conservation reserves on which species occurs: Seven Creeks Wildlife Reserve (Vic).
Other public lands on which species occurs: Not known.
Other land on which species occurs: Private grazing land.
Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately? (If not provide list of additional studies required): No.
- Confirm taxonomic status of stocks.
- Confirm distribution and survival status of separate stocks.
Recovery objectives:
- Confirm taxonomic status of stocks.
- Maintain or expand existing populations with regard to stock distinction.
Management actions already initiated:
- Hatchery techniques for producing fingerlings established.
- Limited stocking of fingerlings has occurred.
- Listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 in Victoria.
- Listed under the Wildlife Protection Act 1982.
Management actions required:
- Declaration of additional conservation reserves: No.
- Habitat management: Yes.
- Manage erosion and clearing of vegetation in catchment and riparian areas.
- Feral animal control: Yes.
- Prohibit stocking of trout in known habitat. Remove all feral species where appropriate and practical.
- Translocation or re-establishment of populations: Yes.
- Re-establish populations within original distribution if suitable habitat exists. Need to consider separate stocks.
- Captive breeding: Yes.
- Required for restocking.
- Other: Yes.
- Initiate program to monitor wild stocks and stocked populations.
Organisations responsible for conservation of species:
- New South Wales Department of Fisheries.
- Victorian Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Other organisations or individuals involved:
- K. Bishop.
Can recovery plan be carried out with existing resources?: No.
- To clarify taxonomic status of species and stocks. Involves collection of specimens, electrophoretic examination, and taxonomic descriptions. Require one technician for two months and one biologist for one year $48 500 and operating costs of $30 000.
Total: $78 500
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