What is needed to restore native fishes in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin?
John D. Koehn
A C K , Stephen R. Balcombe B , Lee J. Baumgartner C , Christopher M. Bice D J , Kate Burndred E , Iain Ellis F , Wayne M. Koster A , Mark Lintermans G , Luke Pearce H , Clayton Sharpe C I , Ivor Stuart A and Charles R. Todd A
A Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia.
B Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
C Institute for Land Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
D Inland Waters and Catchment Ecology Program, SARDI Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, Australia.
E Land and Water Science, Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy, Level 1, 44 Nelson Street, Mackay, Qld 4740, Australia.
F Murray–Darling Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries, 32 Enterprise Way, Buronga, NSW 2739, Australia.
G Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
H Aquatic Ecosystems, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Unit 5, 620 Macauley Street, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
I NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Conservation Branch, Landforms and Rehabilitation, PO Box 363, Buronga, NSW 2739, Australia.
J School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
K Corresponding author. Email: john.koehn@delwp.vic.gov.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 71(11) 1464-1468 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF20248
Submitted: 13 August 2020 Accepted: 29 August 2020 Published: 9 October 2020
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
The Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) is Australia’s food bowl, contributing 40% of agricultural production and supporting a population of over 4 million people. Historically, the MDB supported a unique native fish community with significant cultural, subsistence, recreational, commercial and ecological values. Approximately one-quarter of the MDB’s native species are endemic. Changes to river flows and habitats have led to a >90% decline in native fish populations over the past 150 years, with almost half the species now of conservation concern. Commercial fisheries have collapsed, and important traditional cultural practices of First Nations People have been weakened. The past 20 years have seen significant advances in the scientific understanding of native fish ecology, the effects of human-related activities and the recovery measures needed. The science is well established, and some robust restoration-enabling policies have been initiated to underpin actions. What is now required is the political vision and commitment to support investment to drive long-term recovery. We present a summary of 30 priority activities urgently needed to restore MDB native fishes.
Keywords: Basin Plan, environmental water, native fish recovery strategy, rehabilitation, watering management.
References
Australian Academy of Science (2019). ‘Investigation of the Causes of Massive Fish Kills in the Menindee Region NSW over the Summer of 2018–2019.’ (AAS: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)Baumgartner, L. J., Gell, P., Thiem, J. D., Finlayson, C. M., and Ning, N. (2020). Ten complementary measures to assist with environmental watering programs in the Murray–Darling river system, Australia. River Research and Applications 36, 645–655.
| Ten complementary measures to assist with environmental watering programs in the Murray–Darling river system, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Byron, R. (2017). Review of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s operations and business processes. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. (Natural Capital Economics.) Available at https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/11eb1ffc-653c-482e-bc06-d6fc2dec5379/files/cewh-review-final-report.pdf [Verified 4 September 2020].
Davies, P., Stewardson, M., Hillman, T., Roberts, J., and Thoms, M. (2012). Sustainable Rivers Audit 2: The ecological health of rivers in the Murray–Darling Basin at the end of the Millennium Drought (2008 – 2010). Prepared by the Independent Sustainable Rivers Audit Group for the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council. Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/publications/mdba-reports/sustainable-rivers-audit-2 [Verified 4 September 2020].
Department of Environment and Energy (2016). The National Threatened Species Strategy. (DOE: Canberra, ACT, Australia). Available at https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/strategy-home [Verified 4 September 2020].
Grill, G., Lehner, B., Thieme, M., Geenen, B., Tickner, D., Antonelli, F., Babu, S., Borrelli, P., Cheng, L., Crochetiere, H., Ehalt Macedo, H., Filgueiras, R., Goichot, M., Higgins, J., Hogan, Z., Lip, B., McClain, M. E., Meng, J., Mulligan, M., Nilsson, C., Olden, J. D., Opperman, J. J., Petry, P., Liermann, C. R., Sáenz, L., Salinas-Rodríguez, S., Schelle, P., Schmitt, R. J. P., Snider, J., Tan, F., Tockner, K., Valdujo, P. H., van Soesbergen, A., and Zarfl, S. C. (2019). Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers. Nature 569, 215–221.
| Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31068722PubMed |
Interim Inspector-General of Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources (2020). Impact of lower Inflows on State Shares Under the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement. Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. Available at https://www.igmdb.gov.au/media/17 [Verified 21 August 2020].
Koehn, J. D., and Lintermans, M. (2012). A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia. Endangered Species Research 16, 165–181.
| A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koehn, J. D., Raymond, S. A., Stuart, I., Todd, C. R., Balcombe, S. R., Zampatti, B. P., Bamford, H., Ingram, B. A., Bice, C., Burndred, K., Butler, G., Baumgartner, L., Clunie, P., Ellis, I., Forbes, J., Hutchison, M., Koster, W., Lintermans, M., Lyon, J. P., Mallen-Cooper, M., McLellan, M., Pearce, L., Ryall, J., Sharpe, C., Stoessel, D. J., Thiem, J. D., Tonkin, Z., Townsend, A., and Ye, Q. (2020). A compendium of ecological knowledge for restoration of freshwater fishes in the Murray–Darling Basin. Marine and Freshwater Research 71, 1391–1463.
| A compendium of ecological knowledge for restoration of freshwater fishes in the Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Legge, S., Woinarski, J., Garnett, S., Nimmo, D., Scheele, B., Lintermans, M., Mitchell, N., Whiterod, N., and Ferris, J. (2020). Rapid analysis of impacts of the 2019–20 fires on animal species, and prioritisation of species for management response. Report prepared for the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel 14 March 2020. Available at https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/ef3f5ebd-faec-4c0c-9ea9-b7dfd9446cb1/files/assessments-species-vulnerability-fire-impacts-14032020.pdf [Verified 1 April 2020].
Lintermans, M., Geyle, H. M., Beatty, S., Brown, C., Ebner, B., Freeman, R., Hammer, M. P., Humphreys, W. F., Kennard, M. J., Kern, P., Martin, K., Morgan, D., Raadik, T. M., Unmack, P. J., Wager, R., Woinarski, J. C. Z., and Garnett, S. T. (2020). Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction. Pacific Conservation Biology , .
| Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (2011). Delivering a healthy working basin. About the draft Basin Plan. (MDBA: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/delivering-a-healthy-working-basin.pdf [Verified 16 April 2020].
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (2013). Constraints management strategy 2013 to 2024. (MDBA: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/publications/mdba-reports/constraints-management-strategy [Verified 21 August 2020].
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (2020). Native fish recovery strategy. Working Together for the future of native fish. (MDBA: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/node/5971/ [Verified 23 June 2020].
Pittock, J., and Finlayson, C. M. (2011). Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 232–243.
| Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Samuel, G. (2020). Independent review of the EPBC Act – interim report. (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au/resources/interim-report [Verified 23 June 2020].
Vertessy, R., Barma, D., Baumgartner, L., Mitrovic, S., Sheldon, F., and Bond, N. (2019). Independent assessment of the 2018–19 fish deaths in the lower Darling. Final report. (MDBA: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/Final-Report-Independent-Panel-fish-deaths-lower%20Darling_4.pdf [Verified 11 May 2020].
Walker, B. (2019). Murray–Darling Basin Royal Commission report. SA Government, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Wong, C. M., Williams, C. E., Pittock, J., Collier, U., and Schelle, P. (2007). ‘World’s Top 10 Rivers at Risk.’ (WWF International: Gland, Switzerland.)
