Posts Tagged ‘redfin’
{{start}}
{{end}}
{{+1}}NSW government gives green light to Snowy 2.0{{-1}}
{{start}}
The NSW government has given planning approval for the multibillion-dollar Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project, prompting warnings the move will cause the extinction of a rare native fish species.
 |
 |
 |
Mark Lintermans, an associate professor at the University of Canberra, resigned as chairman of the NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee, saying the giant project would likely transfer invasive fish into the final 3 kilometre stretch that plays host to the critically endangered stocky galaxias. As part of the approval, the government granted Snowy Hydro an exemption from two critical provisions of the NSW Biosecurity Act that was designed to prevent the transfer of invasive species, Professor Lintermans said.
“I cannot continue to serve a government that so wilfully ignores the destructive impacts of Snowy 2.0 on two threatened fish species,” Professor Lintermans said in a statement. The invasive climbing galaxias and redfin perch would also have a significant effect on the endangered Macquarie perch.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said “In March we approved the Snowy 2.0 Segment Factory and this month we have approved the Snowy 2.0 Main Works, enabling the creation of new jobs and the flow of substantial investment into our state,” Mr Stokes said.
The project's owner, Snowy Hydro, would be required to invest almost $100 million for biodiversity and environmental offsets to protect the values of the Kosciuszko National Park, he said.
When completed, the scheme will involve the construction of a 27-km tunnel to pump water from Talbingo Reservoir to the Tantangara dam, with electricity generated by releases from the upper reservoir. The government touted the benefits of the new project, which it said would create as many as 2,000 new jobs and inject $4.6 billion into regional NSW.
{{end}}
Last Updated: June 14, 2020
Author: 
Categories: 
Tags: 
{{+1}}Snowy Mountains Trout v’s Redfin{{-1}}
{{start}}
MEDIA RELEASE - Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc on 25 May 2020
Monaro Acclimatisation Society to work with NSW Fisheries for Snowy Hydro 2.0 Recreational Fishing Offset.
 |
 |
|
Over the last three years the Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc (MAS), the main fish stocking organisation in the Snowy Mountains and Monaro, has been negotiating with Snowy Hydro for a recreational fishing offset as part of the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project. When the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project was announced by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in March 2017, the MAS became concerned that the redfin perch pest species would be pumped from Talbingo Dam into Tantangara Dam, which so far is redfin free. Redfin are a Class 1 noxious fish in NSW. The MAS was also concerned that redfin would then spread from Tantangara Dam into the redfin free waters of the upper Murrumbidgee River and Lake Eucumbene.
Various scientific studies have identified that redfin perch have the capacity to degrade a trout fishery within a short time due to their ability to prey on smaller and newly hatched trout. Because rainbow trout only live for about three years the fishery can decline quickly if there is no recruitment. Stocking the usual smaller fry or fingerling trout is ineffective as they are just the right size for redfin to prey on.
Negotiations with Snowy Hydro culminated in the MAS recreational fishing offset comprising of a trout grow-out facility being included in the Environmental Impact Statement for Snowy Hydro 2.0. This facility is designed to grow a significant number of trout up to 200 mm or yearling size. At this size they are too big for the majority of redfin to prey on.
Today the Snowy Hydro Main Works Assessment Report was released with a requirement that Snowy Hydro invest $5 million over 5 years for the construction of a salmonid grow-out facility which will allow for the stocking of larger trout.
President of the MAS Steve Samuels said “Producing trout to a more robust yearling size will give us the best chance of ensuring the Snowy Mountains trout fishery is not decimated by redfin incursion.
“There is a general consensus among anglers that the yearling trout could also be used to improve the fishing in other Snowy Mountain waterways” he said.
While these negotiations have been between the MAS and Snowy Hydro the concept has now been developed to a point where the MAS is seeking co-operation from NSW Fisheries to help progress the project. The MAS has always approached this project on the basis that it is developed within the Snowy Region and operated as an annex to the Gaden Trout Hatchery.
Earlier this year Mr. Samuels wrote to the new Deputy Director General of NSW Fisheries Mr. Sean Sloan, asking that the Department commit to meeting with the MAS to discuss how the project can be developed with NSW Fisheries input and support. Mr. Sloan replied that he was aware of the significance of the trout fishery to the Snowy region and that “I have asked Peter Turnell, Group Director Recreational and Aboriginal Fisheries to commence more specific discussions on the proposal with the MAS. I have also asked Mr Turnell to keep me informed if an opportunity arises for me to attend any subsequent meetings with DPI and the MAS to discuss the final proposal and offset strategy”.
Mr Samuels also mentioned that other authorities would need to be consulted over time, such as the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, environmental bodies and of course there will need for consultations with local communities once a location was settled upon.
“The use of larger trout to stock redfin-dominated waters has been practised by the Victorian Fisheries Authority for many years with great success”, Mr Samuels said. “Our problem is that Gaden Trout Hatchery needs significant investment to increase its capacity to grow the required numbers of larger fish but will still be limited by its water supply; an additional off-site trout grow-out facility such as we are proposing meets that purpose very nicely”, he said.
For further comments or interview contact
Steve Samuels
President
Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc
[email protected]
MOB 0431 058 117
{{end}}
{{+1}}Snowy Hydro MKII – redfin update{{-1}}
{{start}}
Snowy Hydro continues to work closely with the recreational fishing community to minimise issues associated with the possible transfer of redfin perch between reservoirs by the Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro project.{{end}}
{{+1}}Trout v redfin{{-1}}
{{start}}
500 rainbow larger-than-usual trout have been released in Oberon Dam in the hope the large fish will slow the population growth of redfin.
|
Ray Tang from the Central Acclimatisation Society helped carry out an experiment in July. “Basically, it’s a pilot release. An experiment to try and combat the prolific redfin. It breeds so prolifically it is known to destroy trout fisheries and any other fishes,” Ray said. Redfin or European perch was named a Class 1 noxious pest by the DPI in 2010. Redfin are also impacting other species of fish in Lake Wallace and Lake Lyell.
“Wallerawang anglers hope to follow in the same footsteps as Oberon. We believe people have introduced them to the lakes when they didn’t know how much danger they actually cause.”
Mr Tang said he hopes the eight-month old trout released will grow to maturity and, due to their large size, place pressure on the dam's redfin population.
For more on this story see the Lithgow Mercury.
{{end}}
{{+1}}Redfin in Jindabyne, Eucumbene & Tantangara ????{{-1}}
{{start}}
Here is an interesting email from Steve Samuels that I wanted to share with you. Redfin are prolific breeders and carnivores ... if the right precautions are not in place, with no chance of mishap, their numbers will quickly out-compete trout for food and as soon as they get to any size they have the predisposition to eat trout fry and fingerlings.{{end}}