The Swan Hill community is invited to gather at Riverside Park on Friday July 5th to help re-release Freshwater Murray Crayfish back into the Murray River, in what is a significant environmental event aimed at restoring the local population.
The Murray River experienced severe flooding in late 2022 and early 2023, which caused adverse conditions for many aquatic species, including the iconic Freshwater Murray Crayfish.
In response, a dedicated rescue operation was conducted by OzFish Unlimited, volunteers, farmers, landholders, and state government agencies from both New South Wales and Victoria. This initiative saved over 1,400 freshwater crayfish and hundreds of native fish, which were temporarily relocated to aquaculture sites.
Now, with conditions in the river stabilised and deemed safe by leading scientists and freshwater ecologists, OzFish, in collaboration with Landcare NSW, Edward-Wakool Angling Association, the Joint Indigenous Group (JIG), Western Murray Land Improvement Group, and NSW DPI Fisheries, are organising a re-release event.
Braeden Lampard, OzFish Program Manager – Murray Darling Basin, expressed his gratitude for the volunteers' hard work during the rescue mission.
"Volunteers are fundamental to OzFish, and without their help, we wouldn’t have been able to rescue these iconic species. The re-release is not just about putting crayfish back into the river; it’s about acknowledging the community effort and dedication that went into saving them, highlighting the importance of environmental stewardship and collaboration."
“The rescue mission was a testament to the mateship amongst recreational fishers, agencies and the community’s resilience. Volunteers worked tirelessly under challenging conditions, travelling up to 500km a day to save distressed aquatic species”.
The re-release event is a celebration of this collective effort and a step towards ensuring a thriving ecosystem in the Murray River. Community members are encouraged to attend and witness firsthand the positive impact of their contributions.
Event Details
Date: Friday, July 5, 2024
Time: 5:30pm to 6:00pm
Location: Riverside Park (under the bridge), Swan Hill
For more information about the event or to register to attend: https://ozfish.org.au/event/swan-hill-murray-crayfish-relocation/
ENDS
More photos available on request.
MEDIA ALERT
Photo opportunities of the cray release and interviews are available onsite at Riverside Park on Friday 5th July from 5pm onwards.
Key Facts:
Swan Hill locals encouraged to attend event to re-release Murray Crayfish back into to Murray River after they were rescued from floodwater in 22/23
Friday July 5th 2024 5.30pm to 6.00pm at Riverside Park, Swan Hill
About us:
About OzFish
OzFish Unlimited is a national environmental conservation charity established to improve the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries. It is a member-based organisation dedicated to make our fishing grounds healthy, vibrant and more productive. Their active work includes; habitat restoration such as resnagging, riverbank planting, clean-ups, fishways, shellfish reefs and educational and community capacity building programs.
Contact details:
Braeden Lampard Senior Program Manager - Murray Darling Basin
M: 0432 656 835 | E: braedenlampard@ozfish.org.au
Caitlin Berecry Social Media and Content Manager
M: 0448 200 822 | E: caitlinberecry@ozfish.org.au