A collaborative new research project will bring together fisheries experts from across Australia and abroad to work jointly on re-establishing wild populations of the endangered native Macquarie Perch.
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt today officially announced the $3.7 million project at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, which will drive collaboration of governments, university researchers and recreational fishers.
The three-year project will conduct dedicated research to ‘crack the code’ on captive breeding of the species, meaning fisheries experts will be able to produce and release Macquarie Perch using hatchery broodstock, rather than capturing wild adult fish every season.
The project, led by the Federal and Victorian Governments, features 12 partners across government, universities and community, including Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), NSW Fisheries and the North East and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authorities.
This important work will also be driven by research partners including Deakin University, University of the Sunshine Coast, Monash University, Arthur Rylah Institute and the Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture Research, as well as the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
