Join the Community Effort to Re-Release Freshwater Murray Crayfish in Swan Hill

Swan Hill locals are invited to help release Murray Crayfish back into the river after they were rescued from floodwater in 22/23

OzFish Unlimited

The Swan Hill community is invited to gather at Riverside Park on Friday July 5^th 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/