The Barred Galaxias, Australia’s rarest fish species, has been given added protection in Marysville.AUSTRALIA’S rarest fish has been handed a life-insurance policy with recent work on O’Leary’s Creek at Marysville.
The innovative project involving realignment of O’Leary’s Creek and construction of a waterfall is aimed at protecting the threatened Barred Galaxias from its main predator, the trout.
Steve Smith, senior flora and fauna planner with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) said the work had significantly improved the habitat for the threatened species.
The Barred Galaxias is a small, native fish found only in headwater streams at high elevation in the Goulburn River system.
O’Leary’s Creek has one of only 20 small populations known to exist.
Mr Smith said the waterfall will act as a barrier to trout, which eat the small fish, and help secure the long-term survival of the population.
“This means that annual stocking of the lake with trout for recreational fishing can continue and will not be any threat to the survival of the Barred Galaxias further upstream,” he said.
Mr Smith added that the Marysville fish population was particularly special because it was the lowest elevation of all known populations and has survived for such a long time in the town.
The Barred Galaxias project is a joint initiative of the Shire of Murrindindi, DSE and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
