Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit

Welcome to our website.

Our goal is to undertake research to help ensure the conservation and sustainability of our aquatic ecosystems and the unique fauna they support.

We undertake a broad range of research projects on aquatic ecosystems.

NATIVE FRESHWATER FISHES

Western Australia hosts a unique suite of freshwater fishes (and fish biologists).

The State consists of three unique ichthyological (fishy) provinces.

The KIMBERLEY is the most diverse with almost 50 species of freshwater fish, and it shares about eight species with the PILBARA (or INDIAN OCEAN DRAINAGE DIVISION), a division with six endemic fishes and one that contains Australia's only cave fishes.

The drainage division of SOUTH-WEST AUSTRALIA contains a low diversity but has the highest proportion of endemic fishes of the entire continent.

FERAL FISHES

Did you know that there are millions of feral fish in our waterways.

They compete with native fish for food and habitat, some eat native animals.

The one pictured below is the PEARL CICHLID (Geophagus brasiliensis) a South Amercian species now found in the Swan River catchement near Perth (in Bennett Brook).

For more information on feral fishes in Western Australia follow this link

FRESHWATER CRAYFISH

All native freshwater crayfishes in Western Australia are endemic to the south-west region. Please click on the link above to explore these species.

Tackling invasive fish and crayfish in the Vasse-Wonnerup Ramsar wetland system

$2000 HONOURS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!!

The Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit in collaboration with the Estuarine Research Unit at the Centre for Fish, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Research, Murdoch University, have recently secured a major grant from the Federal Government’s Caring For Our Country program to undertake a comprehensive fish survey in the Vasse-Wonnerup Ramsar wetland system and its rivers.

The project will identify pest species hotspots, prioritise the threats posed by those species, and undertake control programs to reduce their ecological impact.

The project, led by Drs Stephen Beatty, James Tweedley and Associate Professor Alan Lymbery, will have a strong emphasis on community education to help prevent further introductions of pest species into the unique south-western Australian waterways and involves a variety of partner organisations including GeoCatch, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Fisheries, Department of Water and South West Catchments Council along with local school and community groups.

For information about the Honours Scholarships available, email s.beatty@murdoch.edu.au

see aslo Murdoch's

Estuarine Research Unit

MUSSEL WATCH

Check out the link below to see where Carter's Freshwater Mussel are found and their importance to aquatic ecosystems.

TEAM SAWFISH

For over a decade we have been working with people of the Kimberley to protect the unique fishes of the region, including the Freshwater Sawfish. Check out our research and other interesting facts on sawfish. Don't forget to report any sawfish captures.

Check out the Latest News from our group

Plenty of action photos in our picture gallery or on the Team Sawfish page

SALAMANDERFISH (Lepidogalaxias salamandroides) (photo G. Allen)

One of south-western Australia's nine unique freshwater fishes. It has immovable eyes, so to look around it bends its neck!

It also aestivates, has internal fertilisation, unique sperm, unique fin development and is a Gondwanan relic. Find out more on the diet and biology of this unique fish.

OUR LOGO

Balston's Pygmy Perch

(Nannatherina balstoni)

One of our endangered fishes, listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999. The individual here was painted by Lindsay Marshall. The species range has declined and it is now restricted from Margaret River to the Angove River, although it is usually only found in low numbers.

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY HOME

NEW

Field guide, brochures and documentary series on south-west fishes, crayfishes and mussels!

This Lotterywest funded project draws upon our decades of research in the south-west.

The first official launch of the project (3rd August) was well attended and guests included the State Minister for the Environment the Hon. Bill Marmion and the State member for Cannington Hon. Bill Johnston.

The project was managed by South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare and co-authors include Quinton Burnham from Edith Cowan University.

Copies are available from SERCUL.

Some of our 2000+ survey sites

We have a solid understanding of the distribution of all fishes and crayfishes throughout Western Australia. However, our understanding of the biology and ecology of these species and how they interact with their ecosystems is also vitally important for their long-term conservation in the wild.