A Retreat For Maccas Recreational Anglers Driving Threatened Species Recovery

Luke Pearce, Dean Gilligan, Martin Asmus, Matthew McLellan and Trever Daly HistoricalCurrent Distribution Distribution Historical Abundance

Catch from 10am -3:30pm 61 Mac perch, 1924 Mac perch taken from 2 trout and one Murray Cod, Eildon Weir Alexandra. 1930.

• Macquarie perch were highly regarded as an angling, considered to provide excellent sport and considered to be possibly the best freshwater table fish in . • Attracted intense angling activity • Three quarters of a tonne of fish taken in a single day from a single pool below the Goulburn weir • Large captures of migrating Mac perch from Lake Eildon were legendary, and resulted in phenomenal harvests measured in tonnes per week. Macquarie Perch distribution Upper Lachlan/Abercrombie 2006 Redfin Invasion 1 Nov 2005 3 April/May 2006 254 Dec 2006 2008 most dominant fish species present 2008 Sample at virtually ever site Macquarie Perch now appear locally extinct from the Upper

What Has Been Done •2008 collected 114 broodstock from the Abercrombie •Established a purpose build pond at Narrandera to house them What Has Been Done •First ever successful spawning of hatchery Maccas Identification of a Refuge Site: Retreat River Refuge Site: Retreat River Retreat River Stocking

. 01-09 – 64,500 Trout 14000

12000 . 2011 – 28 Macca’s

10000 . 2012 – 7500 Macca’s

8000 . 2013 – 24 Macca’s

Rainbow Trout 6000 . 2014 – 11,700 Macca’s Macquarie Perch 4000 . Total 1,9352

2000

0 Involvement from CAS . Ceased Trout Stocking . Supported funding Bids . Provided Funding via the Rec Trust . Assisted is Identification of refuge site . Assist in annual monitoring . Promote the project . Want to do more!!!!

Recruitment Has it worked

Over 133 Recaptures

Macca’s along the entire Retreat 2018 Results 33 Maccas caught 9 recruits from 2016

Lessons Learnt

. Hatchery production is possible

. Recruiting populations can be established from hatchery breed fish

. This project provides a great model for further recovery

. There is growing support from recreational anglers for threatened species recovery

If wish to see the return of a recreational fishery for Macca’s we need to fight for one!

Acknowledgements, CAS, Lachlan CMA, Recreational Fishing Trust, Environmental Trust, SOS and Central Tablelands LLS