Decimated species reintroduced in landmark trial

Once common in SA's stretch of the river, Murray crayfish numbers have declined almost to extinction as a result of overfishing, decline in water quality, and the impacts of river regulation.

While Murray crayfish are still found in select locations in Vic and NSW, about 200 of the species - the second largest freshwater crayfish in the world - were released in SA this week in an effort to bring the species back.

A number of the released crayfish have been fitted with tracking devices to help monitor their movements within the river.

This initiative is a partnership between Nature Glenelg Trust, and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from landscape levies, with support from NSW DPI, Vic Fisheries Authority, OzFish Unlimited, North West Aquaculture, River Murray & Mallee Aboriginal Corporation and PIRSA.

Aided by recent research, the team involved is feeling confident the trial will help to understand the conditions required for Murray crayfish to flourish.

"The Murray crayfish release would not have been possible without the rescue efforts of OzFish volunteers during the upstream black-water event, and North-West Aquaculture and Nature Glenelg Trust for maintaining them in captivity," said Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Wetlands team leader Darren Willis.

"Many of the rescued crayfish have been returned to the locations they were rescued from, but with the support of NSW DPI Fisheries and other state agencies, we were able to secure some of these crayfish for release in South Australia.

"The releases represent an important first step to re-establishing a self sustaining population of this iconic species in SA."

Nature Glenelg Trust's Dr Nick Whiterod said the reintroduction effort was being guided by a decade of research and planning, while colleague Sylvia Zukowski said the collaborators involved were excited about the opportunity to return an iconic and beautiful species back to SA.

"It's really important to attempt these kinds of bold projects so that future generations can have the chance to see the species in the SA River Murray," Dr Zukowski said.