Edition #83 - August 2024

Photo: NSW DPIRD – Fisheries and Forestry

Trout relocation a win for anglers and endangered Macquarie Perch

Community minded anglers, NSW DPIRD – Fisheries and Forestry staff and OzFish volunteers have banded together to relocate trout from Winburndale Dam into Mill Pond at Lithgow. The annual  relocation sees trophy sized fish moved into water accessible to recreational fishers, and in the process is creating a safe haven for critical breeding populations of endangered Macquarie Perch and River Blackfish.

Photo: Mainstream Aquaculture/James Cook University

Researchers uncover secrets of the golden barra

James Cook University researchers and Mainstream Aquaculture are a step closer to unlocking the mysteries of gold and platinum barramundi after identifying what gives the species their unique looks.

Photo: NSW DPIRD – Fisheries and Forestry

Murray Crayfish returned to river following blackwater events

Following poor water quality in the mid-Murray River in December 2022 due to flooding events, NSW DPIRD – Fisheries and Forestry along with local community groups rescued hundreds of Murray crayfish that had crawled out of the water. Now that conditions have stabilised, the crays are being reintroduced into the river to restore local populations.

How a filmmaker, a pile of old shells and a bunch of amateurs are bringing our oyster reefs back

From humble beginnings, a community-driven project in Queensland’s Moreton Bay has grown into an ambitious plan to restore 100 hectares of oyster reef over the next ten years. This would make it the largest oyster reef restoration project in the Southern Hemisphere.

Photo: Fishing World

Huge catfish population boost across Victoria

Freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) populations have received a huge boost through
the translocation of 102 mature catfish from the Glenelg River to four waterways across
northern Victoria.

Uncovering the secrets of King Reef's local fish

Fish habitat in action! The artificial structures at Western Australia's King Reef are proving how essential habitat is for healthy fish populations. Since their installation in 2018, the six repurposed steel structures and 50 concrete modules have transformed a barren seafloor into a thriving ecosystem, now home to over 100 fish species. Watch the latest underwater footage of the local residents.

Photo: Greta Valley Landcare Group, CC BY, The Conversation

How a long-lost fish species was brought back to Bendigo

The Southern Pygmy Perch hadn’t been seen in Bendigo Creek since the mid-19th-century goldrush, when a booming town sprang up around the central Victorian waterway. But today, thanks to the efforts of community volunteers, scientists and local authorities, there are several thriving local populations of this small fish.

Photo: Stirling Peverell/The North West Star

Sawfish secrets could help save the threatened species

Australian scientists have discovered intimate secrets about one of the world's most threatened marine animals and it could help save the rare fish from extinction.

Photo: Whitney Hassett/Swiftwater Films/NOAA

World’s Biggest Dam Removal Project to Open 420 Miles of Salmon Habitat

With the dams on the lower Klamath scheduled for complete removal by September, salmon will re-enter the habitat California and Oregon for the first time in a century.

Photo: Holly East, The Conversation

Tropical seagrass meadows are sand factories that can help defend coral reef islands from sea-level rise

Seagrass meadows provide a refuge for young fish, and help to slow climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than rainforests. A new study has discovered another reason to preserve the world’s remaining seagrass meadows: they can build and maintain coral reef islands.

Estuaries and coastlines capture most plastic before it gets out to sea, giving us a chance to stop ocean pollution

If you ask someone where plastic ends up, they will usually say the ocean. It’s not a surprising answer because we have known since the 1970s that plastic is accumulating in the subtropical oceans, far from land. However, new research  show less than 10% of what enters rivers and coastlines actually reaches the subtropical accumulation zones, meaning we have a solid chance to stop waste before it reaches our waterways.

Listening to seagrass meadows to understand how their underwater soundscapes reflect biodiversity

Seagrass meadows are buzzing with activity. Sea snails scrape rocks as they eat algae, young fish feed on tiny zooplankton, crabs fight to defend their territories, plus birds, seals and otters hunt for food. Hearing a wider variety of sounds might mean there are more animals in the seagrass and potentially indicate a healthier, more biodiverse seagrass meadow.

The Fish Habitat Network

The Fish Habitat Network is an initiative funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and supported by NSW Government. Our mission is to harness the skills and experience of multiple organisations to promote and support the involvement of recreational fishers in all aspects of fish habitat management. Its objectives are to share knowledge, initiatives and activities related to improving fish abundance and biodiversity through habitat management, to share knowledge and support inter-jurisdictional collaboration and to make things happen on the ground. "Habitat Makes Fish Happen" - The Fish Habitat Network has created its social media channels and a website as a way to share information about fish habitat. Here you will find information and updates, plus images and videos that promote ecological understanding of fish habitat across Australia.

Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Grants

Angling clubs, individuals, community groups, local councils and organisations interested in rehabilitating fish habitats in freshwater and saltwater areas throughout NSW can apply for grants funded through the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts. Learn about Habitat Action Grants here and Saltwater Flagshup Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Grants here.

Fish Screens Australia

Fish Screens Australia is an information hub. It’s a collaboration between senior fisheries scientists, all types of water users, manufacturers, university researchers, engineers, anglers and conservation managers. See what it's all about

Newstreams is an email newsletter to keep people up to date about fish habitat activities and important developments in fish ecology and habitat. It is free by email subscription.  

To subscribe please CLICK HERE 

You can send in your habitat news by emailing newstreams@ozfish.org.au 

Back issues can be found at https://www.fishhabitatnetwork.com.au/newstreams 

Newstreams is supported by funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts, raised from the NSW Recreational Fishing Licence fee. Newstreams is published electronically every three months by OzFish Unlimited on behalf of the NSW DPIRD – Fisheries and Forestry and on behalf of the Fish Habitat Network, a partnership of organisations working on fish habitat and a network of fishers engaged in fish habitat issues.

OzFish Unlimited, is partnering with the NSW Government and the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts to deliver NEWSTREAMS four times a year.