Life-Saving Water Granted For Rare Fish

January 18, 2008

Release from: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

A school of rare native fish under threat from the drought in south-western NSW received life-saving water in a bid to save them from extinction.

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission and Forests NSW started releasing a small amount of water - up to 0.5 gigalitres - into a Millewa State Forest creek, near Deniliquin, to save a threatened population of Southern Pygmy Perch.

The fish habitat, which has been monitored by authorities since last September, significantly deteriorated after Christmas.

Research scientist Lee Baumgartner, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, said the Millewa population of perch was one of only a small number in the Murray-Darling Basin.

"This population is under threat from the severe drought conditions," he said.

"Researchers are undertaking an assessment program to closely monitor fish conditions before and after the watering takes place."

Commission chief executive Wendy Craik said the water allocation was being made available through The Living Murray program.

"It is part of the 12.8 gigalitres carried over from last water year for environmental emergencies such as this," she said.

"This water is not available for irrigation use and will not impact on the availability of water for other users."