Biodiversity

Threatened species

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: Yarra Pygmy Perch

Family: Nannopercidae

Scientific name: Edelia obscura

English name: Yarra Pygmy Perch

Species taxonomic status: Formally described by Klunzinger, 1872.

Species survival status:

  1. Action plan status: Vulnerable.
  2. Australian Society for Fish Biology status: Potentially Threatened.
  3. Proposed new IUCN criteria status: Vulnerable (habitat alteration).

Former distribution: Coastal drainages of Victoria and South Australia from Dandenong Creek (Melbourne) to eastern South Australia.

Current distribution: Few locations in south west Victoria and south west South Australia.

Habitat: Slow flowing streams or still waters amongst aquatic vegetation.

Reasons for decline: Generally unknown.

  1. Probably due to generalised destruction of habitat including removal of aquatic and riparian vegetation and drainage of swamps.
  2. Interactions with introduced species may be implicated in the decline:

Conservation reserves on which species occurs:

At present there is limited information on the numbers of individuals at each site and the condition of the populations.

Other public lands on which species occurs: None.

Other land on which species occurs: Within the last 10 years this species has been found in the following streams flowing through private land:

Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately? (If not provide list of additional studies required): No.

  1. Determine precise distribution and presence of other populations.
  2. Determine habitat requirements.
  3. Determine threatening processes.

Recovery objectives:

  1. Maintain existing populations and habitats.
  2. Re-establish populations at sites with suitable habitats.

Management actions already initiated:

  1. Listed under Schedule Two of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
  2. Funding from ANPWS Endangered Species Program for the development of a Recovery Plan.
  3. Captive populations maintained by N. Romanowski. Other aquarists may maintain individuals or small groups.

Management actions required:

  1. Declaration of additional conservation reserves: Yes.
  2. Habitat management: Yes.
  1. Feral animal control:
  1. Translocation or re-establishment of populations:
  1. Captive breeding:
  1. Other: No.

Organisations responsible for conservation of species:

Other organisations or individuals involved:

Can recovery plan be carried out with existing resources?: No.

  1. As most of the populations are located in Victoria and all initial work has been done there, the project team should be based there and liaise with South Australian Fisheries. A joint Yarra and Ewen's pygmy perch study team is proposed. One biologist and one technician – $220 500 plus operating funds of $30 000 per year for three years. An additional $20 000 per year for three years is required to undertake fencing.

Total: $370 500

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