Native fish replenishment continues

In the third year of the program, catfish of various ages and lengths have been released to continue to improve their survival rate.

The project is an ongoing partnership between several organisations including the Deniliquin Fishing Club, NSW Department of Primary Indstries Research and Development Fisheries, Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council, Edward River Council, Edward Wakool Angling Association, Deniliquin High School Year 10 Landcare students and Narrabri Fish Farm.

The fish stock were purchased with funds raised through the 2025 Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge, with supporting funding from the Recreational Fishing Trust.

Dr Conallin has said the Willoughby’s Beach release was one of many, with others released in the Billabong Creek at Jerilderie and Conargo, Murribit Creek near Wakool, the Wakool River, Eagle Creek near Barham and some wetlands near Koondrook.

“The fish have come from Narrabri Fish Farm, and we’ve stocked 5000 this year.”

Mrs Manzin said the aim is to redevelop the native population to where it once was.

“The aim is to hopefully restore the local population to be self-sustaining and breeding locally in larger numbers, so it can one day be taken off the threatened species list and in a couple of years people can fish for catfish as they did before,” she said.

“With all the people involved, it is a great example of the power of collaboration and community.”

Outside the 5000 catfish stocked this year, the group has also added 5000 olive perchlet and 1000 purple spotted gudgeons.

This was the seventh release of fish into local waterways in the three years since the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge was established in 2023.

The first local release of eel-tailed catfish in June 2023 made history, in that the species has not naturally existed in the system for more than a generation.

It was also believed to be the first community release of catfish into a river system anywhere in NSW.

Dr Conallin said the latest fish release complements multiple efforts over several years to increase the native fish population in the Deniliquin district.

“The fish that have been released are olive perchlet and eel-tailed catfish, which are both threatened species in New South Wales,” he said.

“The olive perchlet were released into the Deniliquin lagoons, which over the last decade has become a very successful threatened fish species breeding and education centre.

“We also have southern purple spotted gudgeon in the lagoons, and possibly southern pygmy perch - all threatened species.

“There is nowhere in Australia that has such a unique system in the centre of their town.

“It took a lot of hard work, over a decade, and the work continues today.”