• water management
  
  • Water overview
  • Legislation and policies
  • Water data online
  • Water access and trade
  • Water sharing plans
  • Water for the environment
  • Water quality
  • Water Compliance
  • Across the State
• vegetation
  
  
  • Vegetation overview
  • Native vegetation in NSW
  • Plantations
  • Private Native Forestry
  • Vegetation Compliance
• soils
  
  
  • Soils overview
  • Soils in NSW
  • Soils data online
  • Soil survey
  • Maps for land managers
  • Soil Conservation Schemes
  • Acid sulfate soil
  • Salinity
• wetlands, coast and floodplains
  
  • Coast and floodplains overview
  • The coast
  • Estuaries
  • Floodplains
  • Wetlands

• Facts about Wetlands »»
• What is a wetland?
• The Location and Extent of Wetlands in NSW
• Types of Wetlands in NSW
• The loss of Wetlands in NSW
• Threats to the Wetlands of NSW
• Why are Wetlands so important?
• Wetland Plants and Animals
• Wetlands and Groundwater
• Wetlands of International and National Importance
• References and Further Reading
• Wetland Management in NSW »»
• The Wetland Recovery Plan
• Managing Wetlands on Your Property
• Wetlands and Activities in Your Area »»

• Site search:

Home > Water Management > Water for the environment > Wetlands > Wetlands

Wetlands

The Fish of NSW Wetlands

Introduction
The Management of Freshwater Fish in NSW
Activities that cause a decline in the fish populations in NSW
Exotic, Alien, Introduced and Translocated Species
Threatened and Protected Species
Some examples of the fish that may be found in NSW Wetlands
References and Further Reading

Introduction

The wetlands of NSW provide feeding, spawning and nursery sites for many species of fish. In fact, they are essential to the survival of many freshwater fish including Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Silver Perch and Catfish (Billyard, 2000).

Most freshwater fish are not confined to wetlands, but are dependent upon them, directly or indirectly, for particular parts of their life cycle. The habitat requirements of adults are also often very different to the requirements of juveniles. Some fish remain in freshwater all of their lives. Others may or must spend a part of their lives at sea. Some have life cycles that involve migrations from fresh to salt water, or vice-versa in order to spawn. These species are called diadromous fish. There are still other fish species that spend their entire lives at sea. Due to the great range of wetland types in NSW, from freshwater to marine, all three types of fish can be found in the wetlands of NSW.

The Management of Freshwater fish in NSW

NSW Fisheries is the principle agency responsible for the management of the fish resources of NSW.

Activities that cause a decline in the fish populations in NSW

Many of the activities that adversely affect NSW wetlands also directly or indirectly impact on those fish populations dependent on them for particular parts of their life cycle.

One of the most significant activities is river regulation. The large dams that have been built in many river systems in NSW store water that would have previously flooded wetlands further down the system. In many cases this has prevented the spawning of some native species as well as a reduction in the survival of young fish. With less water flowing into wetlands there has been a significant reduction in the movement of fish into and out of wetlands. There has also been a disruption in the cycling of nutrients as well as wetland productivity. In other cases wetlands that were previously characterised by cycles of wetting and drying are now permanently inundated. Regulatory structures also impede the passage of migratory species such as the Golden Perch and the Australian Bass.

There are many other activities that have led to the decline of fish populations in NSW. They include, but are not limited to: water pollution; dredging and reclamation; water abstraction; the intermittent opening of coastal lagoons; aquaculture; the construction of roads, bridges, culverts, causeways and similar structures; the removal of snags, boulders or rocks; clearing of riparian or floodplain vegetation; the construction of breakwaters, jetties and similar structures; commercial and recreational fishing; and, erosion and sedimentation.

Exotic, Alien, Introduced and Translocated Species

In the NSW Fisheries, Aquatic Habitat Management and Fish Conservation - Policy and Guidelines (1998), the following categories are given for fish that have been moved from and within their natural ranges. Exotic species are those species brought into Australia from a foreign country, that are known to only occur in captivity within the aquarium trade in Australia. Alien species are those species brought into Australia from a foreign country, that have established wild populations in Australia. Introduced species refers to those native species that have been transferred into areas that are outside their natural range. Translocated species refers to native species that have been transferred into other localities within their natural range.

Threatened and Protected Species

Threatened Species

Legislation that provides for the protection of all threatened fish and marine plants in NSW was included as Part 7a of the Fisheries Management Act in July 1998. Within the legislation fish are actually defined to include all aquatic animals at any stage in their life cycle. The provisions mirror those in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (administered by the NSW NPWS). As of September 1999, seven species had been declared as threatened under the legislation. These seven fish and their habitats are afforded special consideration in planning decisions.

Protected Species

NSW Fisheries has also prohibited the capture of some rare freshwater and marine species in order to ensure their protection.

Some examples of the fish that may be found in NSW Wetlands

Details of some of fish species commonly found in NSW wetlands are provided below. Clear notes are given to indicate where a particular fish species is most likely to be found, whether it is threatened or protected, and some of the major activities that may be affecting populations.

Australian Freshwater Cod & Bass Eg: Murray Cod	Carp and Minnows Eg: European Carp
Catfish	Congolli
Freshwater Blackfish	Freshwater Eels
Freshwater Grunters or Perches Eg: Silver Perch	Freshwater Perches Eg: Redfin Perch
Galaxiids	Gobies
Grey Mullets	Gudgeons
Hardyheads	Herrings
Livebearers	Pygmy Perches
Rainbow Fish	Salmon, Trout & Chars Eg: Rainbow Trout
Southern Graylings	Southern Smelts Eg: Australian Smelt

References and Further Reading

Best Reference Website - NSW Fisheries

General & Field Guides

Allen, G.R., (1989) Freshwater fishes of Australia. TFH Publications. Brookvale (ISBN 0 86622 936 1).

Billyard, R. (2000). Fishcare. Our Freshwater Wetlands – Fishnote DF/32. NSW Fisheries website.

Gehrke, P. C., Brown, P., Schiller, C. B., Moffat, D. B. and Bruce, A. M. (In press). 'River regulation and fish communities in the Murray-Darling River system, Australia'. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management.

Gould League of Victoria Inc (1989). Wetlands Wildlife. Gould League of Victoria.

Harris, J. H. (1995) Carp: the prospects for control? Water 22, (2), 25-28.

Lake, S. J. 1971. Freshwater Fishes and Rivers of Australia. Nelson, Melbourne.

McDowall, R.M. (1996). Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. 2nd ed. Reed, Sydney.

Nannestad, C. (ed) (1994) Proceedings of the forum on European Carp, Wagga Wagga NSW, 20 June 1994. Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Committee, Wagga Wagga.

Richardson, B. A. 1983. Fishes. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW.

Slater, P. and Parish, S. (1997). A First Field Guide to Australian Fish. Steve Parish Publishing, Brisbane.

W.D. WILLIAMS (1991) Australian Freshwater Life. Mc Millan, South Melbourne.

(ISBN 0 333 29894 2)

Conservation & Management

Cadwallader,P.L., 1978. Some causes of the decline in range and abundance of native fish in the Murray-Darling River system. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic. 90. 211-224.

Harris, J.H., 1984. Impoundments of coastal drainages of south-eastern Australia, and a review of its relevance to fish migrations. Aust Zool. 21(3). 134-250.

Langdon, J.S., 1988. Prevention and control of fish diseases in the Murray-Darling Basin. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Native Fish Management, pp 163-173. Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.

Lawrence, B.W., 1991. Fish Management Plan. Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.

Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, 1987. Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Resources Study. Chapter 4, Aquatic and Riverine Ressources. State Pollution Control Commission, Sydney.

NSW Fisheries (1988). Policy and Guidelines: Aquatic Habitat Management and Fish Conservation. Edited by A.K. Smith and D. A. Pollard. Office of Conservation, NSW Fisheries, Sydney.

Pollard, D. A., Llewellyn, L. C. and Tilzey, R. D. J. 1980. Management of freshwater fish and fisheries. In "An Ecological Basis for Water Resource Management. (Ed. W. D. Williams). Australian National University Press, Canberra.

Wager, R and P. Jackson (1993). The Action Plan for Freshwater Fishes. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Division. Brisbane, Queensland Australia.

Threatened species

ANZECC, 1991. List of Endangered Vertebrate Fauna. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.

Harris, J.H., (Ed), 1987. Proceedings of the conference on Australian threatened fishes. Australian Society for Fish Biology, Melbourne, 15- 16 August 1985. Sydney: Division of Fisheries, NSW Department of Agriculture.

Ingram, B.A., C.G. Barlow, J.J. Burchmore, G.J. Gooley, S.J. Rowland and C.A. Sanger, 1990. Threatened native freshwater fishes in Australia - some case histories. J. Fish. Biol. 37 (Supplement A). 175-182.

Jackson, P.D., 1992. Australian Threatened Fishes - 1992 Supplement. Australian Society for Fish Biology Nerwsletter, 22. No.2. 19-24.

Pollard, D.A., B.A. Ingram, J.H. Harris and L.F. Reynolds, 1990. Threatened fishes in Australia - an overview. J. Fish. Biol. 37 Supplement A. 67- 68.

Introduced species

Fletcher, A.R. 1986. Effects of introduced fish in Australia. In: DeDecker, P. and W.D. Williams (Eds), Limnology in Australia. pp 231-238. CSIRO/Dr W. Junk.

Jackson, P.D., 1981. Trout introduced into south eastern Australia: their interaction with native fishes. Vic. Nat. 98. 18-24.

Pollard, D.A. (Ed), 1990. Australian Society for Fish Biology Workshop: Introduced and translocated fishes and their ecological effects. Bureau of Rural Resources Proceedings No.8. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.