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 for various government and non-government agencies and also consult to the private sector on issues relating to impacts on these ecosystems (contact us to request our services).

We have designed this website to provide a wide variety of information sources relating to biology, ecology and distribution of the Western Australia's fishes and crayfishes, their parasites, and the various impacts they face. 

Please use it to explore the unique and fascinating world of freshwater fauna in Western Australia's rivers and wetlands.

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

$2000 HONOURS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!!

The Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit in collaboration Estuarine Research Group 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.  Previous work by the research team has identified introduced fish and crayfish as key threats to the ecological health of south-western Australian aquatic ecosystems. In the Vasse River, a number of invasive species of concern are present, including Goldfish, Mosquitofish and the Yabby. These pose a serious threat to this internationally recognised wetland.  Despite this threat, no information exists on the broader distribution of these and potentially other feral aquatic species in the system.

As part of the survey, the project will identify pest species hotspots, prioritise the threats posed by those species, and undertake control programs to reduce their ecological impact.  Gaining this knowledge will allow future planning of control efforts to help mitigate the many impacts that pest fish and crayfish have on unique aquatic ecosystems such as the Vasse-Wonnerup. 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

NATIVE FRESHWATER FISHES

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

The State consists of three unique ichthyological 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.

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.

 MUSSEL WATCH

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

Sawfish pupping ground below