The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has achieved a world-first conservation milestone by successfully breeding endangered Australian Grayling in captivity at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute. The achievement marks the first significant breeding attempt for the species in captivity and establishes NSW as a leader in conservation breeding for one of Australia’s most threatened native fish species.
The breakthrough gives fisheries scientists a practical new tool with the potential to boost numbers in the wild and support the long term recovery of the species.
Researchers captured wild Australian Grayling broodstock, acclimatised them to hatchery conditions and used hormone-induced spawning to produce healthy larvae from viable eggs with fertility rates exceeding 85%.
Significantly, the team also recorded natural spawning in captivity, demonstrating the species adapts readily to hatchery care, handling and breeding.
NSW DPIRD Director Freshwater Fisheries and Threatened Species, Cameron Lay said the result represents a breakthrough for threatened species recovery.
“This is a significant achievement and a major step forward in our efforts to secure the future of Australian Grayling,” Mr Lay said.
“Our teams have demonstrated for the first time that this endangered species can be successfully bred in captivity, creating new opportunities to support population recovery across its range.”
Mr Lay said the project has also delivered new important scientific discoveries which have reshaped our understanding of the species’ reproductive ecology and will have significant implications for future conservation efforts.
The Australian Grayling is found across south-eastern Australia and experienced a substantial population decline and range contraction, particularly following the successive impacts of prolonged drought, the 2019-20 bushfires and the multiple major flood events. Its conservation requires collaboration across multiple jurisdictions.
Mr Lay said NSW’s success had positioned the state at the forefront of conservation breeding for the species.
“This achievement reflects the expertise of our research and aquaculture teams and the strength of partnerships working towards a common conservation goal.
“We’ve moved beyond asking whether Australian Grayling can be bred in captivity. We can now focus on how this capability can be scaled up and applied as a practical tool to recover populations in the wild.”
DPIRD is now exploring opportunities to build on the successful proof of concept, expand hatchery capacity and investigate how captive-bred fish and eggs could contribute to long-term recovery efforts.
The announcement aligns with ongoing efforts to protect and re-establish aquatic threatened species populations and highlights the role of ongoing research, innovation and collaboration in supporting biodiversity outcomes across NSW.
The captive breeding program was delivered by DPIRD in partnership with La Trobe University and the Arthur Rylah Institute.
The project was supported by funding from the NSW Government’s Estuary Asset Protection Program (NEAP), part of the National Emergency Management Authority’s $64 million Riparian Stabilisation Package. The Riparian Stabilisation Package is co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements administered through the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
