Goldfish control in the Vasse River: summary of the 2008 programme

This report summarises the results of the 2008 round of the feral Goldfish control in the lower Vasse River and comparisons made with previous control efforts since 2004

Ascending the Avon: fishes of the Northam Pool, and the Swan-Avon catchment

The fish fauna in the vicinity of the Northam Pool Weir was sampled seasonally between winter 2008 and autumn 2009. The results indicate that the fish community was characterised by species that are halotolerant including two estuarine species, the Western Hardyhead and Swan River Goby that are likely to have undergone large upstream expansions in the Swan‐Avon catchment due to secondary salinisation. However, two freshwater endemic species, the Western Minnow and Nightfish were also recorded in the vicinity of the weir. These, and other freshwater endemic species, have undergone large range reductions in this catchment as a result of salinisation. The study found evidence that the weir may be impeding the upstream movements of native fishes as found elsewhere in south‐western Australia and that construction of a well‐designed fishway would enhance population connectivity and increase their sustainability. It is recommended that additional sampling occurs during the major spawning periods of the freshwater species immediately below the weir to determine precisely when a future fishway would need to operate to allow maximum usage by resident native species. It is also recommended that fresh refuge habitats for freshwater fishes be identified to allow effective management measures to be implemented in those systems to halt their decline and reduce the risk of complete loss of these species from the Swan‐Avon catchment

Distribution of the spotted minnow (Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842)) (Teleostei: Galaxiidae) in Western Australia including range extensions and sympatric species

Galaxias maculatus was captured from a number of rivers outside its previously known range. In Western Australia, it was formerly only known from rivers and lakes between the Goodga River (Two People's Bay, 30 km east of Albany) and the Dailey River (50 km east of Esperance), with additional records from the Boat Harbour Lakes (Kent River). An intensive survey of the inland fishes in rivers and lakes along the south coast of Western Australia has extended its distribution east by 50 km (Thomas River), west by approximately 40 km (Walpole River) and north by 400 km (Harvey River). The Western Australian Museum also has a specimen from the Canning River, a further 100 km north. Field salinity tolerance of G maculatus was high, with fish found alive in 81 mScm 1 (-45 ppt). The freshwater piscifauna east of, and including, the Pallinup River is depauperate, with G. maculatusbeing the only freshwater species present. All sympatric teleosts are tolerant of salinity and, with the exception of the introduced Gambusia holbrooki, are estuarine, including Pseudogobius olorum, Leptatherina wallacei and Acanthopagrus butcheri

Galaxiella munda, Western Mud Minnow

Western Mud Minnow Galaxiella munda has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Galaxiella munda is listed as Endangered under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

Galaxiella nigrostriata, Black-stripe Minnow

Black-stripe Minnow Galaxiella nigrostriata has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Galaxiella nigrostriata is listed as Endangered under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

Galaxias truttaceus

Spotted Galaxias Galaxias truttaceus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Galaxias truttaceus is listed as Least Concer

Nannatherina balstoni, Balston's Pygmy Perch

Balston's Pygmy Perch Nannatherina balstoni has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Nannatherina balstoni is listed as Endangered under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

Nannoperca pygmaea

Little Pygmy Perch Nannoperca pygmaea has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Nannoperca pygmaea is listed as Endangered under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v)

Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, Salmanderfish

Salmanderfish Lepidogalaxias salamandroides has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Lepidogalaxias salamandroides is listed as Endangered under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)

History of cichlids in Western Australian aquatic ecosystems

Three species of the family Cichlidae have been reported from Western Australian waterways, including Tilapia zillii, Oreochromis mossambicus and Geophagus brasiliensis. While T. zillii was first found in 1975 and was successfully eradicated, O. mossambicus was first recorded in natural waterways of Western Australia in 1981, and has since spread to a further three river systems through either human-assisted dispersal or from flooding events. Recent research assessing the distribution and impact of the species in Western Australia suggests that O. mossambicus poses a serious threat to the unique aquatic fauna of Western Australian inland waters, including estuaries. The entry of other cichlids into the State’s waterways, including G. brasiliensis, which was first discovered in 2006, has the potential to impact Western Australia’s unique aquatic fauna in both inland freshwaters and estuaries