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Introduced fish in the Murrumbidgee River System, NSW

The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority’s project “Aquatic The following summary provides information on introduced Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) Biota Enhancement “ in partnership with the Australian and State species found in the Murrumbidgee catchment that are Proportions of fish species sampled in Government has been funded through the Natural Heritage Trust2 ( NHT2 ). Gambusia is a North American fish species that was introduced The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority has engaged NSW considered as pests. into natural Australian waters to control mosquitoes (hence the Murrumbidgee catchment (source: Gilligan, 2005). Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) to deliver the project. their common name mosquito fish). Their ability to control mosquito larvae however is no greater than native species. Green: Native species. Red: Introduced species. Introduced fish species in the From the age of one month, Gambusia give birth to live young, and can breed several times a year, producing upwards of 50 Eastern gambusia Murrumbidgee River System, NSW Common Australian smelt Carp-gudgeon species complex The rivers and creeks of the Murrumbidgee catchment are home Common Carp Gambusia Goldfish Redfin perch to an array of native freshwater fish and species. Mountain galaxias Rainbow They are also home to several introduced fish species. Bony herring Oriental weatherloach Introduced fish may compete with, and sometimes prey upon, Murray native fish and other aquatic species. Some introduced fish (such Goldfish as redfin perch) carry diseases, whilst others such as Carp can Murray-Darling rainbowfish directly damage stream banks and aquatic vegetation. Two-spined blackfish River blackfish Introduced species also include introduced fish that are actively Brown trout maintained through stocking for sport fishing and include brown Dwarf flat-headed gudgeon Flat-head gudgeon trout, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and brook char. These species are restricted to cooler waters in the upper catchment. Silver perch Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 NSW DPI recently completed the most detailed assessment young each time. Their high reproductive rate coupled with Originating from the northern hemisphere, Carp were Proportion of total abundance of fish species and communities ever undertaken in the a rapid growth rate have lead to their dominance in NSW originally introduced into the Murrumbidgee River in the Murrumbidgee catchment. This assessment was funded by the waterways. In the Murrumbidgee River, gambusia was found to 1940s, but didn’t present an ecological problem until the 1970s National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality through the be the most abundant of all species identified in recent NSW when the Boolara strain of Carp was introduced. Common Carp Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority. In the study, DPI fish surveys. Golden perch one third of species caught were introduced fish, and nearly 90% They are now found in most parts of the catchment, except Gambusia actively compete with native freshwater fish for food Murray cod above Cotter Dam in the ACT and above Googong Dam and Redfin perch of the total fish was comprised of introduced species and territory. They are also known to prey upon the and Rainbow trout Blowering Dam in NSW. Due to their tolerance for a wide range (Gilligan, 2005). juveniles of other native fish species and . Goldfish of environmental conditions, Carp successfully compete with Bony herring Trout cod Carp cage inspection - Photo by Ivor Stuart native fish for food, and breeding sites. Australian smelt Carp are extremely prolific breeders with a large female being Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Eastern gambusia Oriental weatherloach All photos by Gunther Schmida able to produce 1.5 million eggs. Carp also grow fast and Native to Eastern Asia, Goldfish were originally introduced to Two-spined blackfish mature at an early age with males sexually mature at 1 year Mountan galaxias as an aquarium fish in the 1860s. Goldfish have since Silver perch and females at 2 years of age. entered natural waters as result of deliberate stocking activities River blackfish Carp-gudgeon species complex Recent NSW DPI fish surveys showed that the total biomass of in the early 1900’s and have since become one of the most Brown trout fish in the Murrumbidgee catchment was dominated by Carp. widely distributed fish in Australian fresh waters. Goldfish look Murray-Darling rainbow fish similar to Carp but are distinguished by the lack of barbels Flat headed gudgeon This species has been identified under the Threatened Species Dwarf flat-headed gudgeon Conservation Act as a Key Threat to a wide range of or whiskers around the mouth. As with Carp, Goldfish have 0.000001 0.00001 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 species, in particular, the Green and Golden Bell Frog, Southern generalist habitat requirements and successfully compete with Proportion of total biomass Bell Frog and Southern Tablelands Bell Frog. native fish for food and habitat. Introduced fish species in the Murrumbidgee River System, NSW Introduced

Redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) For more information regarding the Murrumbidgee Aquatic Biota Enhancement How do we control introduced fish species? Project please contact: fish in the Redfin perch were introduced from Europe into the Don’t discard your pet fish into natural waterways. Place Murrumbidgee Catchment in 1888, however an established NSW Department of Primary Industries your unwanted fish in the freezer and dispose of the carcass population was not found until the 1940s when they moved Narrandera Fisheries Centre hygenically. upstream from the . It was not until 1983 that Buckingbong Rd, Narrandera NSW 2700 Murrumbidgee the Redfin perch was found in the upper Catchment above It is also illegal to release any fish into natural waters without a Ph: 02 6959 9028. Fax: 02 6959 2935 Burrinjuck Dam. Since 1994, their numbers have increased permit in NSW. This includes the stocking of recreational species Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority consistently throughout the Catchment, which is thought to such as trout and salmon. It is also illegal to import any live PO Box 5224, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 River System be associated with a decline in Carp populations over the last noxious fish into NSW without a permit. www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au decade. Some introduced species are considered to be such significant Ph: 02 6932 3246 Fax: 02 6932 3269 Known as prolific breeders, Redfin perch have the ability to pests that they have been declared noxious fish under the NSW rapidly populate a waterway. In the Murrumbidgee Catchment Fisheries Management Act 1994. Noxious fish species found in Redfin perch are known to prey on native fish such as western the Murrumbidgee Catchment include Gambusia and Carp. Carp gudgeon and Murray cod, and possibly Macquarie perch Noxious listing provides NSW DPI with the power to seize (Lintermans, 2002). and destroy noxious species, or depending on circumstances Further Reading Redfin perch are also known to carry a disease called EHN instigate the destruction of certain classes of species. Information regarding introduced fish species in NSW (epizootic haematopoietic necrosis) which can affect native Attempts at directly removing introduced fish have been trialed is available on the NSW Department of Primary Industries species such as Macquarie perch and Silver perch. in NSW including installing Carp separation cages in fishways website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries and fish screens in wetland inlets. Community-organised fishing Oriental weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) tournaments targeting introduced fish species have also been References: conducted. In addition, research is being undertaken into the Oriental weatherloach are native to Asia and were initially Gilligan D. (2005) communities of the Murrumbidgee Catchment: introduced in Australia as an aquarium species. The first effectiveness of ‘daughterless Carp’ technology – a method of status and trends. NSW Department of Primary Industries, recorded population in the Murrumbidgee Catchment was genetically modifying Carp to impair their ability to reproduce. Narrandera, NSW. found in 1986 in Ginninderra Creek in the ACT from suspected Lintermans M. (2002) Fish in the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment aquarium release. They have since been found in the Improving aquatic habitat for native fish – A Review of Current Knowledge. Environment ACT. Murrumbidgee River and Burrinjuck Dam. One strategy for controlling introduced fish is to actively promote McDowall, R.M. (1996) Freshwater fishes of South-eastern Australia. Oriental weatherloach are highly invasive and can survive in a the survival of native fish. Rehabilitating aquatic is a key Reed Books, Sydney. wide range of temperature, salinity and oxygen levels. They are strategy in improving populations of these native fish. MDBC (2004) Aliens in the Basin - An introduction to Alien fish in the also able to move over land to colonise new waterways. The Murray-Darling Basin. National Carp and Pest Task Force, Murray Darling Introduced fish such as Gambusia, Carp and Oriental species is thought to feed on native fish eggs and compete Basin Commission. weatherloach thrive in highly disturbed aquatic conditions. with native fish for food, habitat and spawning sites, but their Native fish however have a higher chance of survival and are full ecological impact is as yet unknown. more competitive when aquatic habitat and water quality Oriental Weatherloach Redfin Perch resemble pre-disturbance conditions. Several aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects are underway in the Murrumbidgee River including the Murrumbidgee Fish Species photos by Gunther Schmida, except Gambusia, photographed by John Matthews Aquatic Biota Enhancement Project. This project is designed to COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of demonstrate a range of on-ground works to improve aquatic Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of New South Wales. Use or copying of this biodiversity and native fish abundance in the Murrumbidgee document in whole or part without the written permission of Commonwealth of Australia and Catchment. the Government of New South Wales constitutes an infringement of copyright.