Managing fish species under threat: case studies from the Native Fish Strategy for the Murray‐Darling Basin, Australia

Abstract

Summary The Native Fish Strategy (NFS) for Australia's Murray‐Darling Basin was specifically targeted at managing and rehabilitating an entire fish community. Over half of the native fishes (24 of 44 known species) and four fish communities of the Murray‐Darling Basin (MDB) are listed as threatened at either national or state level. One of six ‘Driving Actions’ under the NFS focused on protecting threatened native fish species, and this study reviews a series of NFS case studies during and immediately after the Millennium Drought (1997–2010) which was south‐eastern Australia's worst drought on record. Fish rescues, breeding programmes, the creation of an emergency response contingency fund, and expert panels and workshops were all projects that contributed significantly to conserving threatened fishes. The diversity of approaches taken and lessons learned are highlighted, to formulate future directions for threatened fish recovery.

Laying the foundations for fish recovery: The first 10 years of the Native Fish Strategy for the Murray‐Darling Basin, Australia

“…These stressors resulted in significant loss of habitat via desiccation or altered water quality and necessitated a series of emergency interventions (Lintermans et al . ). To facilitate rapid intervention, a NFS Emergency Contingency Fund was established to provide support for the initial phases of interventions (Lintermans et al .…”

“…The NFS was delivered during a period of climatic extremes with the Millennium Drought (van Dijk et al 2013) resulting in the lowest inflows to water storages on record, followed by severe flooding and 'blackwater' events in 2010-2012 (King et al 2012). These stressors resulted in significant loss of habitat via desiccation or altered water quality and necessitated a series of emergency interven-tions (Lintermans et al 2014). To facilitate rapid intervention, a NFS Emergency Contingency Fund was established to provide support for the initial phases of interventions (Lintermans et al 2014), with nine interventions funded (Table 1).…”

“…These stressors resulted in significant loss of habitat via desiccation or altered water quality and necessitated a series of emergency interven-tions (Lintermans et al 2014). To facilitate rapid intervention, a NFS Emergency Contingency Fund was established to provide support for the initial phases of interventions (Lintermans et al 2014), with nine interventions funded (Table 1). These emergency responses ultimately resulted in the likely prevention of regional extinctions Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa), Barred Galaxias (Galaxias fuscus) and Yarra Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca obscura) with all rescued populations now either returned to their wild habitats or supplying thousands of captive-bred fish for restocking.…”

The future for managing fishes in the Murray‐Darling Basin, south‐eastern Australia

“…). A review of the range of approaches taken by the NFS to protect native fishes under threat (Lintermans et al . ). Some examples of the tools needed to manage fisheries in a proper manner (Barwick et al . ).…”

“…4 A review of the range of approaches taken by the NFS to protect native fishes under threat (Lintermans et al 2014).…”