Monitoring native fish at Waitpinga, Fleurieu Peninsula

Back in May, we shared some photos from our fieldwork surveying native fish. Now you can see all the action in this short video and even meet some ‘climbing fish’!
Every Autumn, 100 sites are sampled at rivers and creeks across the East and West Mount Lofty Ranges to see how aquatic ecosystems are tracking. After measurements are taken, the fish are carefully returned to the water.
The current monitoring program builds on data collected by a number of agencies over many years, and we acknowledge their valuable contribution to improving understanding of native fish populations.
Unfortunately, this long-term monitoring shows declines in the distribution, species number, and total number of fish seen, especially in the drier northern catchments.
How can you help? Excluding stock by fencing off waterways, and especially permanent pools, is a great way to protect our native fish. Stock often cause erosion to watercourses resulting in vegetation and soil loss, churn up sediment and foul the water through excretion and defecation.
This monitoring was done on behalf of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board by the great team at Nature Glenelg Trust.