Supplies of the critically endangered southern purple-spotted gudío in Victoria have been released back into Winton Wetlands waters in a cooperative effort.
This involved the Winton Wetlands Management Committee, the North Central and Goulburn Broken Basin Management Authorities and groups interested in native fish farming.
The addition of spotted gobies follows a similar release last month of southern pygmy perch, another native fish that was once common in and around Winton Wetlands but has become locally extinct in recent decades .
The push to recover previously lost native fish in Winton Wetlands and adjacent areas is part of a three-state effort funded through the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
This week’s release of approximately 300 spotted dogfish and about 1,000 more pygmy perch (after an initial 750 last month) is in line with this year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “It’s the “time to restore the wetlands”.
Restoration scientist Lance Lloyd said organizations around the world were marking the annual event in a variety of ways.
“Here in Australia we thought one of the best ways Winton Wetlands could celebrate World Wetlands Day is to continue the release of these important native fish,” Lloyd said.
“Research and preparation have been going on for several years, working towards the day when this week’s launch would be possible.”
Lloyd said the activity had involved cooperation not only between Winton Wetlands and two catchment management authorities, but also with groups including Native Fish Australia, Australia New Guinea Fishes Association, fish breeder Middle Creek Farm and Aquasave-NGT , part of Nature. Glenelg Trust, an environmental group based in South Australia.
The captive breeding activity has had the support of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action of Victoria.
“We are seeing an unprecedented level of cooperation and partnership across three states, the federal government and expert groups of various kinds, all bound by a common interest in achieving a return to healthier waterways and more diverse and balanced ecosystems.” said Mr. Lloyd.
“It’s something we can all start to be proud of. We are indeed working to reverse the extinctions. We will all be watching closely and will continue to work together to monitor progress from here.”
This week’s release of spotted gudgeon brings the total of nationally threatened species in the Winton wetlands to more than 15, with even more statewide.
The wider Winton Wetlands restoration program has three main elements:
- Restore the habitat of native species;
- Elimination of threats to native plants and animals; i
- Wild recovery species lost from the site that cannot easily recolonize.
“This reintroduction activity brings vital ecosystem functions back into the system,” Lloyd said.
“Native fish feed on smaller creatures in the water and in turn are prey on endangered species of birds and fish.
“Healthy wetland habitats, including submerged aquatic plants, can provide enough protection to allow the wider wildlife population to thrive.”
One of the keys to the success of Winton Wetlands, the largest wetland restoration project in the southern hemisphere, is working together with partners in ways that enable their management committee and others to achieve much more than any of them could alone.
A particularly important symbolic dimension of this week’s fish release was that it included a welcome to country by Winton Wetlands Koorie Cultural Officer Nikki James, recognizing the traditional stewardship of the Yorta Yorta people.
You can find more information and art materials for World Wetlands Day at www.worldwetlandsday.org