A lifeline for the Olive Perchlet

News / Blog, Macquarie River, Projects
Olive Perchlet

To protect the Olive Perchlet from extinction and support other connected species, OzFish partnered with NSW Fisheries and Landcare NSW to reintroduce Olive Perchlet, known as Glassfish, into two revitalised wetland sites in the Dubbo region of New South Wales.

These reintroductions are not just about one species – they serve as an “insurance policy” for wild fish populations, building resilience against environmental disasters and helping restock the ecosystem in healthier times.

Habitat rafts – floating hope for native fish

As part of this innovative effort, OzFish built and installed 20 habitat rafts made of floating aquatic vegetation to provide crucial refuge and breeding sites for the Olive Perchlet.

The rafts were constructed using invasive bamboo removed from the area – turning a problem into a solution by repurposing the plant material into completely biodegradable structures.

These aquatic habitats mimic the natural conditions the Olive Perchlet requires to breed such as billabongs with dense vegetation that have been reduced due to pollution and the spread of invasive carp.

Olive Perchlet floating habitat rafts
  • Olive Perchlet floating habitat rafts
  • Olive Perchlet floating habitat rafts

Youth engagement and volunteer power

A key feature of this project has been strong community involvement, with twenty young people from the First Nations-led Boys to the Bush program contributing 26 volunteer hours to construct habitat rafts.

Additionally, over 90 volunteers from the local area pitched in to clean up the wetlands, removing more than 80 kilograms of rubbish and over 300 invasive fish.

“The community came together to help the Glassfish,” said OzFish Dubbo team leader Sean Graham, highlighting the scale and spirit of the effort.

First Nations young people volunteering to construct Olive Perchlet floating habitat rafts

Why saving the Olive Perchlet matters

Once abundant in the Murray-Darling Basin, the Olive Perchlet played a critical role in the food web, sustaining larger fish like the Murray Cod and numerous waterbird species. Sadly, the fish has vanished from many parts of NSW and is now listed as a threatened species.

The species prefers lowland billabongs with rich aquatic vegetation, now degraded by human activity and invasive species. Without immediate habitat restoration, their decline could have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.

Restoring wetlands, rebuilding ecosystems

This project directly addresses high-priority actions under the NSW DPI Fisheries guidelines for Olive Perchlet recovery. From habitat rehabilitation and pest control to community education and research, every component of this initiative contributes to a larger goal: restoring the health and biodiversity of NSW’s freshwater ecosystems.

As Sean Graham explains;

“Without these smaller native fish in our waterways, many other species are at risk. Restoring aquatic vegetation isn’t just about one species—it’s about bringing balance back to the system.”

This project is a collaboration with Boys to the Bush program in Dubbo and the Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Rangers in Forbes, with funding from the Driving Fish Habitat Action in partnership with Landcare NSW, Australian Government through the CRC Program, Murray-Darling Basin Authority Native Fish Recovery Strategy Grants and BCF – Boating, Camping and Fishing.

Feature image courtesy of Gunther Schmida, Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin.