Fish native to Numurkah Lake have been moved into the nearby Broken Creek as water levels continue to drop and forecasts for a hot and dry summer leave the fish vulnerable to increasing water temperatures and decreasing oxygen levels.
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Moira Shire Council’s general manager of community Sally Rice said council was assisting the Victorian Fisheries Authority in the process that will involve electro-fishing and safely transferring the native fish to the Broken Creek with minimum trauma.
“Electro-fishing temporarily stuns the fish which allows them to be collected with nets,” Ms Rice said.
Exotic (non-native) species such as carp will be euthanised and disposed of because they are a designated environmental pest.
“The last few years have been hot and dry, with the lake receiving limited stormwater run-off from the surrounding residential areas,” Ms Rice said.
“With the water levels continuing to drop and forecasts for a hot and dry summer the fish are vulnerable to increasing water temperatures, decreasing oxygen levels and too many fish for the available space.
“On advice from Victorian Fisheries Authority and previous experience we believe the best course of action is to relocate the native fish to the Broken Creek.”
Victorian Fisheries Authority has engaged Austral Ecology to collect and relocate the fish.
