Macquarie Perch are an Australian native fish and are now listed as endangered, with only four populations remaining in NSW. One of those known populations occurs in Adjungbilly Creek in the Riverina Highlands, making the Creek critically important for the species’ recovery.

To support this work, Refreshing Rivers is partnering with Local Land Services, Charles Sturt University, DPIRD Fisheries, and local landholders. Because this population is relatively isolated, genetic diversity is essential for its long‑term survival. Recently, 30 Macquarie Perch were translocated from Cataract Dam to bolster the local population.

Before release, each fish was fitted with a tiny PIT tag, the same technology used in microchips for cats and dogs. These tags allow researchers to identify individual fish without handling them again.

To find out whether the translocated fish stay in the creek, and how they move, a temporary, solar‑powered PIT recording system has been installed. The system includes solar panels, a battery box, a reader, and an antenna array that automatically records any tagged fish swimming past.

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