Thirty Macquarie Perch will be implanted with acoustic transmitters during a survey of the King Parrot Creek being conducted by researchers from the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) between March 31 and April 11.Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) River Health Officer Sue Kosch said ARI had been undertaking long-term fish monitoring in King Parrot Creek since 2006, as part of the Goulburn Broken CMA’s Threatened Species Program.“The great news is that since we started the surveys in 2006, the numbers of endangered Macquarie Perch captured have doubled from 31 in 2006 to 62 last year,” Ms Kosch said.“However, we’re keen to find out more about fish movement. Last year we were pleased to find there were juvenile Macquarie Perch – which is a good sign they’re breeding – but very few large individuals were found and only two previously tagged fish re-captured. “We’re unsure whether these larger fish and previously tagged fish are inhabiting other areas of the King Parrot Creek and the population is larger than originally thought, or whether they are moving into the Goulburn River.”Ms Kosch said implanting acoustic transmitters in 30 Macquarie Perch captured in the King Parrot Creek and deploying acoustic receivers to remotely record fish movements along the Creek and the mid-Goulburn around Kerrisdale would help researchers establish the Macquarie Perch population’s mobility.“Understanding how mobile the Macquarie Perch population is and identify potential barriers to fish movement is important for ensuring the long-term future of Macquarie Perch in this area,” Ms Kosch said. “For example, it maybe that if they are using the Goulburn River, it could be an important refuge during drought or low flows.”Ms Kosch reminded anglers that taking Macquarie Perch from the King Parrot Creek was prohibited.
Thirty Macquarie Perch will be implanted with acoustic transmitters during a survey of the King Parrot Creek being conducted by researchers from the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) between March 31 and April 11.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) River Health Officer Sue Kosch said ARI had been undertaking long-term fish monitoring in King Parrot Creek since 2006, as part of the Goulburn Broken CMA’s Threatened Species Program.
“The great news is that since we started the surveys in 2006, the numbers of endangered Macquarie Perch captured have doubled from 31 in 2006 to 62 last year,” Ms Kosch said.
“However, we’re keen to find out more about fish movement. Last year we were pleased to find there were juvenile Macquarie Perch – which is a good sign they’re breeding – but very few large individuals were found and only two previously tagged fish re-captured.
“We’re unsure whether these larger fish and previously tagged fish are inhabiting other areas of the King Parrot Creek and the population is larger than originally thought, or whether they are moving into the Goulburn River.”
Ms Kosch said implanting acoustic transmitters in 30 Macquarie Perch captured in the King Parrot Creek and deploying acoustic receivers to remotely record fish movements along the Creek and the mid-Goulburn around Kerrisdale would help researchers establish the Macquarie Perch population’s mobility.
“Understanding how mobile the Macquarie Perch population is and identify potential barriers to fish movement is important for ensuring the long-term future of Macquarie Perch in this area,” Ms Kosch said. “For example, it maybe that if they are using the Goulburn River, it could be an important refuge during drought or low flows.”
Ms Kosch reminded anglers that taking Macquarie Perch from the King Parrot Creek was prohibited.
“We’d appreciate that if an angler caught a tagged fish, that they record the number on the tag and let us know, before carefully releasing them,” she said.
The King Parrot Creek Project is funded by the Victorian Government’s Securing Priority Waterways – On Ground Works Program. The project aims to improve the health of the King Parrot Creek and protect and expand Macquarie Perch habitat by providing grants to landholders for stream-side fencing, weed control, revegetation and off-stream watering (eg troughs for stock).
For more information about the project, phone Sue Kosch on 5736 0100 or visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
