Southern Stocks of Jungle Perch Kuhlia Rupestris in Need of Recovery.

Michael Hutchison and Robert Simpson

Queensland Department of Primary Industries, DECEPTION BAY, AUSTRALIA

THEME: ASFB

The stronghold of jungle perch in Australia is eastern Cape York and the wet tropics region of Queensland, where the species is a popular sports fishing target. However the distribution of jungle perch extends (or did extend) at least as far south as the Richmond River in NSW. A search of museum records and a survey of recreational fishers, fisheries researchers and aquarium fish collectors indicates that jungle perch were probably once more widespread and common in the southern part of their distribution. Small remnant populations still persist in some streams near the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane area. The majority of these streams are small perennial un-dammed systems with only occasional captures recorded from short freshwater sections below weirs or dams on some larger regulated rivers, including the Brisbane and Maroochy. Jungle perch have a diadromous life-history pattern and thus the construction of weirs and barrages in waterways south from Mackay has obviously impacted on southern populations of jungle perch, leading to a severe reduction in numbers and local extinctions. Very few jungle perch have been captured passing through recently modified fishways on the Pioneer and Burnett systems. This suggests chances of natural recovery may be limited. To restore viable jungle perch populations in southern areas may require a biologically managed restocking program in conjunction with restoration of fish passage. Research is also urgently required into the genetic status of southern remnant populations as this has implications for the conservation status and management of these populations.