Caring for Southern Pygmy Perch
Caring for Southern Pygmy Perch
This project trained committed people how to monitor for Endangered Southern Pygmy Perch in the Gunning region of NSW
Community Participation -
LP030-002
The issue
Southern Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca australis) is a small native freshwater fish that was once widespread in the Murray Darling Basin. It is now limited to a very small number of sites and in 2008 it was declared to be Endangered in NSW. Several of the sites where it still occurs are within the Gunning area. Gunning District Landcare is very concerned about the conservation of the species, and in 2017 commissioned a Local Action Plan. Among the recommendations in the Plan is the need for on-going monitoring of local populations.
The solution
With a grant from the Communities Environment Program, Gunning District Landcare offered two opportunities for local people to learn how to monitor for Southern Pygmy Perch. Freshwater ecologist, Associate Professor Mark Lintermans, conducted the training in April and May 2021 - at two sites across four days. A total of 24 people were trained how to properly use bait nets to sample for fish, scientifically report on the fish caught, and to safely return the fish to the waterways. Grant funds were also spent on the necessary equipment and resources required to continue this work into the future.
The impact
Gunning District Landcare is currently in the process of applying for a Community Fishing Licence. If and when the licence is granted our trained citizen scientists will be able to apply their new skills to monitor numbers of Southern Pygmy Perch in locations where they are known to occur, supplementing other monitoring conducted by scientists. It will also enable the citizen scientists to conduct monitoring across our region, which may identify currently unknown remnant populations of this important Endangered species. The monitoring techniques can also be applied to other rare and declining species in our district such as the Bald Carp Gudgeon, and Blackfish.
Learnings
There is strong community interest in caring for local Endangered species. The training events were enjoyable as well as highly informative. Winter weather can make such events a little uncomfortable and challenging!
Key facts
- Southern Pygmy Perch is an Endangered species in NSW
- Gunning District Landcare is serious about helping to conserve local populations
- Citizen scientists were trained how to monitor for Southern Pygmy Perch
- Monitoring is crucial in order to inform efforts to conserve the species