Around 100 critically endangered southern purple-spotted gudgeon fish will be released into the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari following a successful initial reintroduction a year ago.
A partnership between Green Adelaide, Nature Glenelg Trust and the City of Marion is helping to return these missing fish to this iconic Adelaide river.
Green Adelaide ecologist Jason van Weenen said this second release of gudgeon will be into a section of the river that was restored as part of an earlier stage of the Breakout Creek Redevelopment Project, which is a strong sign of the impact of this transformative project.
“Although it’s still early days, the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari seems like it once again has the potential to provide a suitable home for the endangered southern purple-spotted gudgeon,” Mr van Weenen said.
In 2023, more than 400 of these fish were released at the western end of the River Torrens as part of an initiative to help save the species from extinction. Since then, fish monitoring surveys at the river are showing that they are persisting since their reintroduction.
Mr van Weenen said that this is not only great for the gudgeon, but fantastic news for the diverse range of wildlife that call the river home.
"Over the last 20 years, conservation activities such as pest management, habitat restoration and water quality improvement have all played a role in the recovery of the river," Mr van Weenen said.
"Gudgeons being able to call the river home once again is a testament to the work of many who continue to restore the river."
Nature Glenelg Trust Senior Aquatic Ecologist Dr Sylvia Zukowski said the second reintroduction of gudgeon was a good sign of support for more initiatives to reintroduce other threatened fish species back to metropolitan rivers.
"Reintroducing southern purple-spotted gudgeon to the River Torrens provides a roadmap for planning for the conservation of other threatened fish species," Dr Zukowski said.
"The gudgeons were in bred at wetlands in Victor Harbor, and then moved to a ‘surrogate site’ of Oaklands Wetlands before being reintroduced to the River Torrens. These surrogate sites are critical for the recovery of small-boded freshwater threatened fish as safe havens for breeding populations."
Dr Zukowski added that school students are involved in the program, increasing awareness of the plight of these threatened fish.
"It also provides students a great hands-on learning experience!"
Urrbrae Agricultural College, Holy Family Catholic school and St Francis Xavier's Regional Catholic School students will take part in the reintroduction day at the River Torrens on 21 November 2024.
A number of schools across SA have been part of the southern purple-spotted gudgeon conservation program managed by Nature Glenelg Trust, in partnership with the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.