Up to several hundred native Southern Pygmy Perch will be released into a private marina on Clayton Bay. This is a key step in ensuring the species is re-introduced along its historic range on the Murray River. This project is funded by the CLLMM Research Centre. Its aim is to recover the fish population that all but went extinct during the Millennium Drought. The project is re-energizing much in part to ecologist Matt Jacobs. He is busy fabricating soft enclosures to temporarily hold the fish until they are fully released this February.
The Southern Pygmy Perch formerly flourished across the lower lakes. In this case, extended drought altered the landscape to an extent that drove this species nearly to extinction. Today, Alec Thornton and Les Weetra from the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation are out there, on the frontlines, doing continued monitoring of the fish’s recovery. They are getting ready for the fish’s release into the wider marina area.
Monitoring and Preparation
Alec Thornton and Les Weetra checking on the Southern Pygmy Perch. They concentrate on the fish welfare and wellbeing as it lives within the holding pens. Temperate Tanya Curtis’ property provides the sheltered conditions perfect for the delicate fish. This welcoming environment allows them to get their feet under them before they go out into the larger ecosystem.
It’ll be very fun to watch how these guys adjust!” Thornton said. He added that researchers should pay attention to their receptivity and reproductive capability in the new environment.
Jacobs has created soft enclosures to acclimate the animals prior to their release. These floating nurseries will be an environmentally sustainable and controlled environment to breed the fish. These floating enclosures will shelter Southern Pygmy Perch, growing them out until they are ready to safely integrate into the marina’s established ecosystem.
The Role of Research
Dr. Sylvia Zukowski, an invaluable asset on this project. She has highlighted the intricate process of studying the fish’s development through their otoliths, small structures within their inner ear.
“It takes about eight hours per otolith because you’ve got to do it really gently and slowly, because as soon as you do it a bit too hard, the whole thing cracks and you’ve lost it and you’ve lost six hours of work,” Dr. Zukowski explained.
According to Dr. Zukowski’s research, a data-rich lens through which to better understand breeding patterns. She noted, “The females are all looking very chubby and healthy, primed to explode…I think the males were just showing off their sexy colors, they were pretty hyped up for spring!” What’s more, this observation suggests that the fish aren’t just living, but flourishing inside their temporary enclosures.
A Hopeful Future
The Southern Pygmy Perch project is an impressive example of the lengths to which one can go to restore a unique and native species that has been hit hard. The team has been working busily to prepare for the full release coming next month. They are feeling more confident than ever about the fish’s prospects in the wild.
Tracking will go on even after release, giving scientists the ability to monitor breeding success across different environmental contexts. Each small ring is a day of life, and you can count the rings to figure out how old the fish is,” Dr. Zukowski told us, highlighting the meticulous precision in their study.
