With the help of modern science, OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s only fish conservation charity, is on a mission to find out if the Kangaroo River Perch is still surviving.
It’s was last recorded in the wild over 20 years ago.
The native fish is a relative of the Macquarie Perch from the Murray Darling Basin, but genetic analysis indicates it’s a completely separate species and unique to the freshwaters of the Shoalhaven/Kangaroo Rivers.
The Kangaroo River Perch looks much like a Macquarie Perch – silvery to dark grey in appearance, sometimes with a mottled pattern, a prominent lateral mid-line and white-ish eye. The Kangaroo River species is usually smaller. The main point of difference is the distribution – we have a good idea about where these fish naturally occur. Genetically they are vastly distinct.
OzFish together with NSW Department of Primary Industries, local Land Services and the University of Canberra will partner in the project.
If it isn’t found, it will be one of Australia’s first freshwater fish extinctions.
If it is, it will be offered the best protections which will include preserving its natural habitat and having it listed under state and national law as a threatened species.
OzFish recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to generate the resources needed to commence the research and it’s already having local anglers contact them about possible catches and sightings they’ve had over the years in the area.
Craig Copeland, OzFish Founder and CEO is thrilled by the response from anglers and hopes more will come forward with information and support.
“We are really excited about the potential to rediscover a species that has been a part of The Shoalhaven River system for thousands of years,” said Mr Copeland.
“We’re looking to see if any anglers have seen it since it was last sighted. If so, they can
