Photos and sightings

Yarra Pygmy Perch

Recently, a few of us accompanied Richard Akers from Melbourne Water at a fish survey on Deep Creek. A controlled electrical charge was used to stun the fish in area that has been known to harbour Southern Pygmy Perch and Yarra Pygmy Perch (pictured). The process enables fish to be captured and recorded before release back into the creek. The survey found introduced goldfish, redfin and gambusia (mosquito fish) as well as pleasingly good numbers of perch. The introduced species pose an ongoing threat to the perch which measured around 40 mm. Gambusia were introduced in the 1920's to control mosquitoes to little effect, earning them the nickname, "dammbusia".