The Albanese Labor Government is investing $700,000 to save five species of galaxias fish which are at imminent risk of extinction.
Urgent action is needed to protect these small native fish from the threat of introduced trout in the Gippsland region of Victoria.
Shaw, Tapered, West Gippsland, McDowell's and Yalmy galaxias grow to less than 10 cm long, making them an ideal prey size for trout.
The project will identify at least three sites for each species where introduced trout are not present due to natural barriers like waterfalls.
Galaxiid fish bred by the Victorian Snobbs Creek Conservation Hatchery will be released at these sites in future.
This will reduce their vulnerability to trout incursions and extreme events like droughts and bushfires, securing their survival in the wild and reducing the risk of extinction.
This funding is just one part of the Australian Government's $224.5 million Saving Native Species program to better protect our precious native plants, animals and ecological communities.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"We need to keep fighting to save all our threatened species, big and small. We know that invasive species like trout, cats and horses are one of the biggest threats to the survival of native species and without urgent action some of these fish will go extinct.
"This is a great example of how our government is investing in projects that make a difference on the ground."
