Wiradjuri County, NSW – A collaborative effort is underway to protect the endangered Olive Perchlet fish, a vital part of the Murray Darling Basin ecosystem and a cherished food source for First Nations people. Traditional Owners, First Nations groups, and OzFish are working together to restore the fish’s habitat in billabongs across Wiradjuri County, New South Wales. Wiradjuri Community and OzFish Join Forces to Save Endangered Olive Perchlet
Once abundant in the Basin’s billabongs, the Olive Perchlet has significantly declined in numbers, particularly in NSW. While still found in the Upper Murray Darling Basin in Queensland, it’s now considered a threatened species in the southern region.
Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Rangers, along with the local Indigenous youth program Boys to the Bush, are leading the charge alongside OzFish to revive the fish’s habitat. Peter White, founder of the Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Ranger group, fondly recalls the billabongs teeming with life. “When we were kids, we had water snails and all, and we don’t see them anymore,” he said, emphasizing the urgent need for protection and restoration.
Central West NSW Landcare member and OzFish Forbes chapter president, a passionate advocate for riparian restoration, is actively involved in planting river red gums along the riverbank near Forbes. This commitment aligns with the broader concern for the Murray Darling Basin’s fish fauna, with over 56% of species threatened and around 30% facing extinction.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Mr White said. “Bringing people together with their knowledge and working collectively is the key to bringing back these fish.”
Chad Parkes, Boys to the Bush director for the Dubbo area, highlights the program’s focus on environmental stewardship and personal growth. “Collaborating with OzFish empowers young people to become environmental custodians and fosters a deep connection to our waterways,” he said.
OzFish is combining traditional Indigenous knowledge with scientific methods to create 20 “habitat rafts” for installation in four significant wetlands along the Basin. These rafts, built by Indigenous youths in the Boys to the Bush program, mimic the natural structures formed by fallen riparian tree branches.
Beau, a Boys to the Bush participant, expresses his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I love making the plant rafts and working with my hands to help improve our local environment.” OzFish Dubbo River Repair Bus team leader, Sean Graham, emphasizes the program’s positive impact on both the environment and the lives of First Nations kids.
This collaborative initiative, supported by Landcare NSW and the One Basin Cooperative Research Centre, exemplifies the power of community partnerships in restoring ecosystems and preserving cultural heritage.
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