In Western Australia’s southwest region the Department of Fisheries is working on to implement new rules to bring back the Margaret River Hairy Marron (Cherax tenuimanus) from the verge of extinction. The department research team has planned to minimize competition for habitat between the critically endangered species and the Smooth Marron species (Cherax cainii), which has taken a dominant position since it was introduced to Margaret River 20 years ago.
Freshwater Research Scientist Dr Rodney Duffy said that the main aim of this project is to increase the survival of juvenile hairy marron, which in-turn will increase the numbers of adults in the wild. He added that it is a vital phase in the implementation of a recovery plan for the species. He also informed that trapping and removing smooth marron, to reduce habitat competition and enhance the survival of juvenile hairy marron during the breeding season, is part of the strategy.
Duffy explained that in future they are hoping to involve a greater number of property owners in the recovery project. He said the Margaret River Hairy Marron was now confined to the upper reaches and there was not a single location where they had exclusivity. He also said that the Department of Fisheries was working closely on the ground with the Cape to Cape Catchments group to save the Margaret River Hairy Marron species. The Department of Fisheries has already established a successful breeding program for the hairy marron; the next step is to help the species win back its place in the local ecosystem to enhance the aquatic biodiversity in the area.
