A busy winter for the aquatic team, with a second release of Murray Crays into SA waters

The aquatic ecology team has been busy this winter surveying, reintroducing and ‘head starting’ Murray Crayfish. This iconic species was lost to South Australia 40 years ago. The range, distribution and abundance of this species has also been reduced in NSW and VIC due to fishing pressure, river regulation, blackwater events, pollution and pesticides. There has been ongoing dedication and work by NGT to help conserve this species over the past decade with ongoing monitoring, management advice, and reintroductions.

This winter we have surveyed blackwater affected sites in NSW along the river Murray from Albury to Robinvale, surveyed populations in Talbingo Dam and associated rivers, and undertaken the second reintroduction of Murray Crayfish back to the Riverland section of SA. This release saw a further 80 Murray Crayfish released, to supplement the 200 individuals released in May 2023, following data showing that all of the 30 radio-tracked crayfish from the original release had survived. We’ve also fitted radio trackers to another 30 individuals from this release. This information provides valuable insights into the behaviour of the crayfish and specific conditions they prefer, allowing us to fine tune future releases.

Listen to one of the ABC radio interviews here (Murray Crayfish story starts 1 minute in).
You can also watch footage of Dr Sylvia Zukowski with one of the ‘berried’ female Murray Crayfish (carrying eggs) in this ABC news article here or by clicking the video image below:

In other exciting news we are also trialing a ‘head starting’ technique to hatch Murray Crayfish eggs and grow out juveniles to an appropriate age for release into the SA sites.

What an achievement and thanks to all those involved. These projects have been done in partnerships and collaboration with a great group of organisations including Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, NSW Fisheries, North West Aquaculture, Murray Darling Basin Authority, River Murray & Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC), VIC Fisheries and Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA).

You can read the full media release here.

This project is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board with funding
from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.