Native Fish May Be Moved From River Murray Into Storage Tanks

[mrmoshe]

Native fish may be moved from River Murray into storage tanks

Native fish species are being increasingly threatened by the dry conditions prevailing in the River Murray system in South Australia.

It has prompted state's Environment Department to start looking at contingency plans.

Moving fish out of the river and into holding tanks at a West Beach aquaculture facility could be one way to keep the species alive.

A senior wetland officer, Russell Seaman, says small fish, such as the southern pygmy perch, the yarra pygmy perch and the murray hardy head are most at risk.

"The wetland habitats that they are typically in have basically dried up so these small fish have been moving into deeper channels or deeper water," he said.

Mr Seaman says it is forcing fish into deeper channels, making them more vulnerable to predators.

"Other years haven't been as dry or the lake level hasn't gone as low," he said.

"We've been in a period of drought for several years so even in 2003-2004 these problems existed, but it never got to the level it is at the present."

The lower lakes and sites around Murray Bridge are the worst affected areas.

[Mik]

As always Pete very interesting post.

I wonder how they plan to catch them?

This could be something that becomes common practice around the country the way things are going.