In Victoria, many agencies invest significant resources in river and riparian rehabilitation activities and research, as well as fish stocking and enforcement. These agencies need information on the status of native fish populations to inform management, policy and strategic research. Until recently, however, relevant data on key species has not been collected and/or shared in a way that agencies, recreational fishers and others interested in fish can easily obtain. To provide more accessible information on the current status of native fish in priority rivers, ‘report cards’ have been produced on selected target species; this includes those with high conservation and/or recreational value.
The Native Fish Report Cards are brief overviews of the health of target fish populations, which present survey summaries and three key indicators. These indicators are: evidence of recent recruitment to the population, presence of multiple size classes and presence of mature fish. Yearly fish surveys, conducted by ARI, record the numbers of fish caught, length and weight of the largest fish caught. Priority rivers and fish species were determined for each catchment management authority and the Melbourne Water region following extensive consultation. The report cards are updated each year.
Each report card also provides brief information regarding the fish community within the river. This includes the non-target fish species incidentally recorded during surveys, the suite of native and non-native species known from each river, as well as environmental conditions during surveys and relevant river rehabilitation efforts.
Native Fish Report Cards 2023:
- NFRC 2023 - Gellibrand River (PDF, 5.2 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Glenelg River (PDF, 7.6 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 662.1 KB))
- NFRC 2023 - Goulburn River (PDF, 8.7 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Gunbower Creek (PDF, 5.7 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Lindsay River Mullaroo Creek (PDF, 7.5 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Mitchell River (PDF, 6.0 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Ovens River (PDF, 8.3 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.4 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Thomson and Macalister River (PDF, 5.2 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB))
- NFRC 2023 - Wimmera River (PDF, 7.5 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 996.4 KB))
- NFRC 2023 - Yarra River (PDF, 4.2 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.7 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Gellibrand River (PDF, 4.4 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Glenelg River (PDF, 4.5 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 838.3 KB))
- NFRC 2022 - Goulburn River (PDF, 6.4 MB)(accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Gunbower Creek (PDF, 6.0 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Lindsay River Mullaroo Creek (PDF, 5.5 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Mitchell River (PDF, 4.6 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Ovens River (PDF, 6.1 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Thomson and Macalister River (PDF, 4.7 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.0 MB))
- NFRC 2022 - Wimmera River (PDF, 4.9 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 983.1 KB))
- NFRC 2022 - Yarra River (PDF, 5.3 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.7 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Gellibrand River (PDF, 892.8 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Glenelg River (PDF, 909.5 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 855.2 KB))
- NFRC 2021 - Goulburn River (PDF, 1.2 MB)(accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Gunbower Creek (PDF, 1.2 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.2 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Lindsay River Mullaroo Creek (PDF, 1.1 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.5 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Mitchell River (PDF, 984.9 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.3 MB))
- NFRC 2021 -Ovens River (PDF, 1.3 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.4 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Thomson and Macalister River (PDF, 987.9 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.1 MB))
- NFRC 2021 - Wimmera River (PDF, 1005.8 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1003.2 KB))
- NFRC 2021 - Yarra River (PDF, 1.1 MB) (accessible version (DOCX, 1.7 MB))
This project is a collaboration between DELWP, ARI, and the Victorian Fisheries Authority, in partnership with recreational fishing license holders. The Victorian Fisheries Authority also presents Native Fish Report Card results at their annual Murray Codferences.
The fact sheet below provides further details about data collection and interpretation for the report cards:
- Native Fish Report Card Program fact sheet - Data collection and interpretation (PDF, 277.5 KB) (accessible version (DOCX, 643.5 KB))
For more information contact: Jason.Lieschke@delwp.vic.gov.au ; Fiona.Warry@delwp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 31/10/23