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Lower Darling River Fish Rescue 2019/2020

OzFish Unlimited volunteers, farmers and community members have worked together during the summer of 2020 in an emergency fish rescue operation in one of our nation’s most significant river systems – the Lower Darling.

The Darling River is the third-longest river in Australia measuring 1,472 kilometers from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth. During a severe drought in 2019, the Lower Darling River had contracted to isolated pools, the river didn’t flow at all and waterholes were rapidly drying leaving native fish at risk of perishing.

Volunteers gave more than 1300 hours, traveled thousands of kilometers and donated equipment to safely catch and transport native fish to prevent the deaths of hundreds of stranded fish.

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Timely fish rescue by recreational fishing volunteers

Concerned community members could not stand by and watch the Lower Darling native fish perish. With the approval of the Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, OzFish volunteers contributed to a program to undertake native fish relocations during the summer of 2019-20 supported by landowners who allowed access to remote stations on the Lower Darling from Pooncarie to Burtundy Stations.

Volunteers gave more then 1300 hours, traveled thousands of kms, and donated equipment to safely catch and transport native fish to prevent the deaths of hundreds of stranded fish.

The volunteers worked in extreme conditions to rescue and relocate precious native fish including poor water quality, knee-deep mud, steep banks and heatwave conditions. Many of the pools the OzFish team netted to capture the fish had eventually dried out completely.

These efforts will benefit generations of Australian fishers.

The result of this hard work was the relocation of 320 native fish by the OzFish team to more permanent and viable water sources.

These rescued fish were in addition to efforts undertaken by NSW Fisheries and other recreational anglers from Broken Hill and Menindee along the Lower Darling, with over 1,500 fish rescued and relocated in total.

The biggest fish moved by OzFish volunteers was a 1.26-metre-long Murray Cod estimated to be more than 25 years old.

With much needed flows finally set to return to the Lower Darling these fish will now survive and will have the opportunity in future to breed and contribute to future native fish recovery.

The emergency fish relocation in the Lower Darling River was one of several rescues undertaken by NSW Fisheries and recreational anglers, with a total of 1,500 fish rescued and relocated.

These rescues where supported by the Sunraysia OzFish Chapter which is run by a hard-working team of volunteers, aided by the generous support of donors, local government, sponsors and corporate partners.

Relocating fish is a last resort management option and must be planned and conducted under approval by relevant agencies. It is illegal to relocate any fish without approval.