Million-Dollar Quest: Rediscovering Rare Aussie Fish Last Spotted in the '90s

Efforts are underway to locate a scarce Australian fish species that has not been sighted since 1998. Specialists are employing resources from a $1.13 million funding provided by a New South Wales tourism firm to explore a distant area within the state, where surviving groups of this fish are anticipated. Kangaroo River perch may have survived.

"There's plenty of legends surrounding this fish that has not been spotted for quite some time and is extremely hard to find... Thus, the search is on to confirm its continued existence," said Peter Chapman to Yahoo News.

The firm he is employed by, Reflections Holidays, is supporting research conducted by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPIRD). This initiative aims to explore more than 100 kilometers of the Shoalhaven River located in southern part of the state. Additionally, these funds will be utilized to stop the decline towards extinction faced by various native freshwater fishes, with an alarming 47 percent currently categorized as endangered species.

Haste to validate 40-year-old hypothesis regarding Macquarie perch

It remains uncertain whether the Kangaroo River perch constitutes a separate species. At present, it is categorized as a Macquarie perch , however, since 1986, researchers have believed it to be distinct.

Throughout May this year, Luke Pearce, a senior fisheries manager at DPIRD, has been exploring a remote section of the Shoalhaven River, located upstream from Tallowa Dam, looking for signs that the Kangaroo River perch still exists.

It’s an extremely isolated region hard to reach," Pearce explained. "The area features very rugged canyon terrain, with access possible solely via kayak, hiking, or landing in a helicopter.

Pearce's group examined the river using eDNA testing, A technique that identifies the existence of aquatic organisms by tracing minuscule amounts of their genetic material in the water is being utilized. So far, this method hasn’t detected the presence of Kangaroo River perch; however, should a colony be located, it would receive protection and breeding efforts to boost its population.

There are two separate populations of Macquarie Perch found within the Murray-Darling Basin and the Hawkesbury River/Blue Mountains regions. Back in the 1920s, their numbers were incredibly abundant; rivers would turn dark with these fish. However, nowadays, the species has significantly declined. extremely rare , and last year, officials cautioned about the species might disappear within half a decade. Hunting them is now prohibited in both New South Wales and Victoria.

The Macquarie perch is currently classified as an endangered species; however, should it be determined that there are actually three distinct species, each one’s conservation status would require reevaluation.

What has led to the disappearance of the Kangaroo River perch?

The DPIRD is uncertain about the disappearance of the Kangaroo River perch, as there has historically been minimal scientific study conducted on this particular species.

"There are only a few accounts of this fish being spotted and merely six specimens stored in museums, which means our knowledge about it is quite limited," Pearce stated.

We're uncertain about the reasons behind the decrease, but several hypotheses are circulating. These usually involve pathogens or illnesses introduced through added fish into the catchment area; however, these claims lack concrete proof as of now.

The decline in perch populations within the Murray-Darling Basin has been strongly associated with human alterations to the river systems through dam construction and the introduction of non-native fish species. These invaders compete with indigenous species for resources and can transmit diseases. Previously considered relatively safe due to their habitat inside a national park, the perch population in the Blue Mountains suffered considerably from the extensive wildfires during the summer season of 2019-2020.

"By clarifying these taxonomic uncertainties, we will be better equipped to adopt a more focused strategy for managing and recovering each population," Pearce stated.

And none of this research would be happening without the contribution from Reflections holiday parks.

Should Australian businesses be putting more effort into environmental protection?

Reflections Holidays aims for its contribution to encourage other Australian businesses to support environmental initiatives.

"I believe all businesses should take part in this initiative. While we focus specifically on native fish conservation, which is important for us, ultimately everyone has a responsibility to safeguard the environment," Chapman stated.

He mentioned that funds were already set aside to research more visually appealing and affectionate creatures. koalas , but not suitable for fish.

"There’s a significant amount of environmental concerns that remain unnoticed and undiscussed, mainly because they lie beneath the water," he stated.

We view our position as crucial for increasing awareness, educating people, and investing resources into resolving problems associated with waterways. Once we discovered that certain native fish species were in dire condition, we became eager to figure out ways to support their conservation efforts.

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The article initially appeared on Yahoo News Australia. https://au.news.yahoo.com/hunt-for-rare-aussie-fish-not-seen-since-1990s-funded-by-1-million-boost-060002394.html

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