A critically-endangered freshwater native fish has been returned to the Adelaide Plains for the first time in more than 100 years.
Saved by the Department for Environment and Water’s (DEW) Green Adelaide, the Statewide project was developed to help save the local native fish species from certain extinction.
Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs said around 500 southern purple-spotted gudgeon were bred in tanks in Victor Harbor and released into Oaklands Wetlands by experts from Green Adelaide, the City of Marion and Nature Glenelg Trust.
“Green Adelaide has been undertaking a study on the suitability of urban wetlands across Adelaide to play a part in threatened fish conservation,” Mr Speirs said.
“The (Oaklands) Wetland is an important and widely used recreational open space and aquatic environment which is home to more than 130 flora and fauna species, and will provide an ideal habitat for these colourful freshwater fish,” he said.
Presiding Member of the Green Adelaide Board, Chris Daniels said the native fish were once commonly found in the lower section of the River Murray and the Torrens and Onkaparinga catchments, but had not been recorded in the Adelaide region since before 1920.
“The species was also lost to the River Murray during the millennium drought, however, fortunately some were rescued and entered a captive breeding program, which then enabled successful reintroduction into their former Murray habitats,” Professor Daniels said.
Mayor of the City of Marion, Kris Hanna said in preparation for the release that the wetland had been drained to remove invasive species to give the native fish the best chance of survival.
Further information about Oaklands Wetland, an off-channel constructed wetland adjacent to the Sturt River in Oaklands Park, can be accessed at this PS News link.
