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Protecting the Macquarie Perch in the Mongarlowe River The Macquarie Perch is endangered and in serious decline throughout most of its former range. This project is improving knowledge through habitat assessment and species monitoring. It is producing a Conservation Information package for the community. It aims to achieve targeted and general community awareness, and identify ongoing conservation needs.
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About Friends of Mongarlowe River |
What others have said about the FMR Macquarie Perch Project (see the comments with pics here) What project partners have said about the project to protect the Macquarie Perch in the Mongarlowe River… Macquarie Perch Expert “The Macquarie perch sampling program has only recorded low levels of fish breeding over the two years of the survey. This is in contrast to monitoring results for this species in other rivers in the Canberra region, and demonstrates that the FMR is right to be concerned about the future of this species in the Mongarlowe River. It must be remembered that the sampling methodology used is particularly aimed at detecting whether breeding has been successful, and does not necessarily represent the status of adult Macquarie Perch in the river. I believe that future monitoring of the breeding success of this species is required, particularly after the current cycle of low rainfall breaks, in order to determine whether the low breeding success is a result of the drought, or some other factors. I would be happy to participate in future monitoring programs. The interest and involvement of the FMR in this project has been outstanding, and really made the project worthwhile for me. The assistance of a variety of FMR members and interested members of the general public, landholders and local fishing club in the Macquarie perch sampling program has been tremendous, and greatly facilitated the survey program. I am greatly heartened that someone is actually taking an interest in this threatened fish.” Assoc. Prof Mark Lintermans Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra
Local Fire Brigade It has been with community spirit that the fire brigade has been involved with the fmr project in researching the endangered mac perch. the brigade provided some radio and gps equipment to assist in the downstream assessment. We happily made available the shed for the preliminary planning with morning teas provided and informed the community through our quarterly newsletter of the project. By personally taking part of the downriver assessment I gained valuable knowledge of the vegetation and the geographical accessibility along the river in regards to pre incident planning relating to any fire event along the Mongarlowe River. This information has been most beneficial to the fire brigade. We thank FMR for giving us this opportunity to expand our local knowledge and to share in the opportunity to protect of the Macquarie Perch. Paul W Bott Captain Mongarlowe Bush Fire Brigade Local Landcare Mongarlowe Landcare has been only too pleased to work with and support the Friends of the Mongarlowe River through their on going Macquarie Perch Project. There is a great cross-over of membership between the two groups which has strengthened our skill base through combine on ground activities. Not only has the capacity of both groups increased through our participation in FMR's project but we now have a solid base for a new joint initiative in controlling willows and other pest plant that Friends of Mongarlowe have identified and mapped along the Mongarlowe River. Mongarlowe Landcare feels that our in kind donation of $400 has been a excellent investment in raising community awareness of this nationally endangered species and is a great example of the good outcomes that can be achieved when individuals come together to support what is a wonderful conservation project. Richard Stone Chair, Mongarlowe Landcare Inc. Local Fishers The Braidwood Fishing Club was glad to be involved with the FMR project in researching the endangered Macquarie Perch. Although in the distant past the fishing club targeted these fish, now the thinking of the fishing club has changed with protection of native species. We have been pleased to aid the FMR with local knowledge from our elder members and members participation in the sampling program. Also Assoc. Prof Mark Lintermans has imparted interesting and informative information on the Macquarie Perch which we are able to pass on to our members. We would like to be involved in any future research the FMR are likely to undergo, and want to get involved in informing other anglers about saving our precious natives. Kerrie Ramm (president/secretary) Braidwood Fishing Club c/o Braidwood Servicemens Club Braidwood Ph a/h 48422486 NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries Ecosystems Branch) We have been pleased to assist the FMR with aspects of this project such as training in habitat assessment, expediting approvals for fish sampling and providing information and guidance where possible. The FMR have done an excellent job in completing such a challenging project. Not only has the project increased knowledge of a significantly threatened fish and its habitat, it has raised the species' profile and disseminated a wide range of information in the local community. Our participation in the project has strengthened our knowledge of the Mongarlowe area and we have found that FMRs involvement has led to positive outcomes such as rehabilitation of some degraded aquatic habitat areas of the Mongarlowe River and hope in the future will provide more sympathetic consideration of aquatic habitat issues in local planning decisions. John Pursey Senior Manager NSW Department of Primary IndustriesFisheries Ecosystems
Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW By involving landholders with river frontage, the FMR has developed an excellent approach to awareness raising and habitat protection for the threatened Macquarie Perch. The FMR project embodies a number of the aims that the Conservation Partners Program (Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW) is also trying to achieve. The Conservation Partners Program supports landholders interested in protecting and managing the conservation values of their property. The protection mechanisms, such as voluntary Conservation Agreements, and the support offered by the Conservation Partners Program may assist in the long-term protection of habitat for the Macquarie Perch and other species along the Mongarlowe River. Belinda Cooke Community Programs Officer / Projects and Planning Officer Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW
Southern Rivers Catcment Managmeent Authority The Friends of Mongarlowe River's project to identify and assess habitat of the Macquarie Perch along the Mongarlowe River has been an outstanding community project. Helping to highlight the significance of the catchment to local residents and increasing landholder awareness and ability to assess the condition of their riparian lands. SRCMA were happy to be involved providing funding and training to interested community members in riparian health assessment. The project will contribute to the CMA's catchment targets of increasing community awareness and working towards improving the condition of riparian lands. The Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority continue to offer financial incentives to landholders to protect and improve their riparian areas. Because of the overall excellent health of the Mongarlowe River, we have and will continue to have a focus on protecting and improving the Mongarlowe River catchment. Rebecca Bradley Catchment
Officer (River Rehabilitation)
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