Latest news with #VictorianFisheriesAuthority
The Guardian
21-03-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Authorities investigate after thousands of leatherjacket fish wash up on NSW and Queensland beaches
Authorities are investigating the death of thousands of leatherjacket fish washed onto beaches in New South Wales and Queensland. The fish, mostly juvenile, have appeared on hundreds of beaches on NSW's south coast and on the Sunshine Coast after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. A spokesperson for the NSW department of primary industries and regional development said the department was investigating reports of dead fish washed ashore along a 140km stretch of the south coast, from Lake Conjola to Narooma, and including the popular fishing spots of Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Lake Tabourie. 'Current reports are estimating numbers in the thousands of fish, mostly juvenile leatherjacket washed up on several south coast beaches, with the cause currently unknown,' they said. 'Samples have been taken to determine the cause of the mortalities and Fisheries officers are continuing to monitor the areas for any further events.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email There are more than 20 species of leatherjacket found in NSW waters, according to the state government. The fish can be recognised by their small mouth, 'beak-like teeth' and thick, rough skin. A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed numerous reports of leatherjacket fish washing up on beaches in south-east Queensland in the past fortnight. 'Leatherjackets, which belong to the family Monacanthidae, are commonly found in Australian waters and are known for their tough, leathery skin and distinctive spine,' they said. 'The reasons for these strandings can vary. Environmental factors such as changes in water temperature, pollution or natural events like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred can contribute to leatherjackets and other fish species washing up on shore.' Leatherjackets were part of a mass fish kill in Victoria's far-east Gippsland in 2017. The Victorian Fisheries Authority said a rapid drop in water temperature killed the fish. Thousands of fish deaths have also been recorded along the Richmond River at Ballina in northern NSW in recent days, with flathead, bream, whiting, prawns and other marine life washed ashore. Waterways protection group OzFish attributed the fatalities to flooding on the northern rivers before and after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which helped create a 'blackwater' event, where organic material was washed into waterways. A spokesperson for Ballina Shire Council confirmed Alfred had affected water quality and low oxygen levels, causing fish kills. 'With widespread impacts, these conditions are likely to continue in the coming weeks,' they said. A similar fish kill happened in 2022, after another severe flooding event in the northern rivers.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fish Declared Extinct in the 1980s Is 'Back from the Brink' with Over 200 Released into the Wild
A fish previously declared extinct has been released back into the wild in Australia. The olive perchlet, a small oval-shaped fish with large eyes, was considered extinct in Victoria, Australia, in the 1980s after being last spotted in nature in 1929, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Now, the species is getting another shot at life and is "back from the brink." Shenandoah Bruce with the North Central Catchment Management Authority told the Australian news outlet that the agency released "200 olive perchlet into Cameron's Creek in the Gunbower National Park." The release occurred in January and reportedly marks the first time the fish has been reintroduced in the area since being labeled extinct. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the olive perchlet plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, particularly in maintaining a healthy food system. The 200 fish were bred in captivity with help from the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Sam Fawke, senior technical officer for the Victorian Fisheries Authority, explained the importance of the fish species: "If we see these species across the board disappear, a lot are them are these small-bodied species, then we're going to see a major effect for the rest of those food webs." The fish frequent wetlands and river systems and are known to eat tiny aquatic pests. They are also a food source for birds. A Feb. 24 social media post from the North Central Catchment Management Authority shared that their recent survey of the olive perchlet released at a different location in Australia in October revealed "incredible results." "From just 100 Olive Perchlet released last October, we discovered a whopping 855 individuals thriving, ranging from 14 mm to 49 mm," wrote the agency. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries states that the olive perchlet can grow to about 70 to 88 millimeters with an average size of about 2 inches. The fish thrive in rivers, creeks, ponds, and swamps with slow or still waters and are often found on vegetation, logs, and dead branches. The government agency states that the olive perchlet went extinct in the wild due to predation by other fish species, habitat degradation, and fluctuation in water levels. Last month, researchers rediscovered another fish species in India after 85 years. The journal Zootaxa announced that a Chel snakehead, also known as Channa amphibious, was rediscovered after it was presumed to be extinct. The freshwater species was absent for over eight decades, with the last recorded specimens collected between 1918 and 1933 in the Himalayan region of India. But in 2024, three specimens were collected on the banks of the Chel River in the town of Kalimpong in West Bengal. Read the original article on People
