Native Fish Release
Native Fish Release
Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon release into the CluBarham Lakes Native Small-bodied Fish Nursery
Collaborations -
LEP_23-023_LLC009
The issue
CluBarham Lakes Precinct was initially constructed in the 1980s and stocked with native fish species. Since 2014, it has been closed to public access and not sufficiently maintained. Given its proximity to the Murray River and Eagle Creek, CluBarham Lakes precinct has been identified as an important ecological site to develop using environmental and consumptive water for threatened native fish breeding and hypoxic blackwater refuge.
The solution
WMLIG, in collaboration with the North Central CMA and funded by the Tri-State NRM Alliance, is creating a small-bodied fish nursery at Barham Lakes. Lake 3 will be restocked with at least two endangered small-bodied species to support local biodiversity and future translocation programs by First Nation Peoples in the Edward-Wakool system. This initiative also aims to engage the community in education.
On Thursday, 16 May, 1,000 Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon fingerlings, grown by Middle Creek Farm from parent stock sourced from Third Reedy Lake, Kerang, were released. Before the release, WMLIG:
- Installed two control structures for lake fish screens at entry points.
- Restored Lake 3, including bank stabilisation and fish habitat installation.
- Commissioned a report by ecologist Dan Hutton on fyke netting, native fish relocation, and exotic fish removal. The translocation event involved Barham High School students.
The impact
Pumping of water, Installation of pipe control structures and earthmoving was provided by local businesses. Fyke netting was highly successful in catching native fish for translocation. Fish habitat was created by placing an old wooden bridge and a large, dead tree in the lake as woody habitat to provide cover from predators and sites for biofilm food production. Specialised ‘fish hotels’ specific to Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon breeding and shelter requirements using short lengths of pipes were constructed by a volunteer from Barham Landcare.
The importance of completing emergent and submerged vegetation to build habitat and provide a feed source for small-bodied native fish was emphasised by the funding partners. Following the fish release, approximately 120m of vegetation sourcing and transfer occurred in conjunction with the Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council. Further work to increase species diversity will occur as weather conditions permit.
Key facts
- 1,000 Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon fingerlings released
- A community led project involving local schools & volunteers from Barham Landcare Group
- Increasing biodiversity in the native fish nursery with the addition of a new species