Saving a tiny native treasure: Oolong Creek’s Southern Pygmy Perch

The Southern Pygmy Perch, a small native fish once abundant in creeks, billabongs, and lakes across New South Wales, now clings to survival at just a handful of locations. One of these rare strongholds is Oolong Creek, and thanks to a dedicated local project, efforts are underway to restore and protect the habitat this threatened species needs to recover.

A community collaboration for conservation

This habitat restoration project is the result of teamwork between the OzFish Dubbo River Repair Bus, Boys to the Bush youth program, Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Ranger Group, Gunning District Landcare, the Native Fish Recovery Strategy, and NSW DPIRD Fisheries. Together, these groups combined hands-on conservation action with cultural knowledge and community energy to safeguard one of NSW’s most vulnerable native fish.

Floating habitats and weed control: Hands-on solutions

To create safe spaces for the Southern Pygmy Perch, five floating habitat rafts were built and installed along Oolong Creek. These rafts, made from biodegradable bamboo, hessian bags, and aquatic plants, mimic natural floating vegetation, offering shelter, shade, and breeding opportunities for the fish.

In addition to raft construction, the team tackled invasive woody weeds like poplars, elms, blackberries, and hawthorn, opening the creek’s canopy to sunlight and encouraging the return of native aquatic plants. Twenty young people from the Boys to the Bush program volunteered their time to help construct the rafts, building skills and a connection to conservation work in the process.

Restoring hope for a species on the brink

The Southern Pygmy Perch is emblematic of Australia’s disappearing small-bodied native fish. Habitat loss, invasive species, and declining aquatic vegetation have pushed this fish to the edge. Oolong Creek’s deep refuge pools, now improved with floating plant rafts and freed from invasive weeds, offer a rare sanctuary that could help this species stage a comeback.

Supporting long-term recovery with local action

This project doesn’t just improve conditions for the Southern Pygmy Perch, it also aligns with high-priority conservation targets set by the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ fisheries guidelines. By focusing on habitat rehabilitation, pest control, and community involvement, the work at Oolong Creek is setting an example for future conservation efforts across NSW and beyond.

This project is in collaboration with Boys to the Bush program in Dubbo, Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Rangers in Forbes and Gunning District Landcare 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, Fishing.