Globally, many species have experienced population declines and are at risk of extinction. In addition to contributing to the loss of biodiversity, increased rates of extinction may disrupt ecological processes and functions (particularly when a keystone species – which has a disproportionally large effect relative to its abundance – is lost). Furthermore, with the extinction of a species, often people’s (including managers and the community) connection with the species is also lost. Translocations are increasingly employed in an attempt to aid species persistence and recovery, but also to engage renewed awareness and support for species and ecosystems.
Here we focus on application of translocations strategy for the large freshwater crayfish, Murray Crayfish, in the Murray River. The species is the second largest freshwater crayfish in the world, and naturally occurred widely across waterways of the southern Murray-Darling Basin. Yet, Murray Crayfish has experienced substantial decline in distribution and abundance over the past 50 years attributed to river regulation, pesticides and pollutants, habitat degradation and harvest pressure and blackwater events. Mostly recently in the Murray River, 81% population loss was experienced in areas exposed to extreme blackwater disturbance over 2010−11, and minimal recovery eventuated. Translocations are common in other freshwater crayfish around the world and, whilst illegal releases are known, targeted and strategic translocations have not been initiated for the species in almost one hundred years. This is despite translocations being proposed as a feasbile option to re-establish locally extinct populations of species some 25 years ago.
This presentation the details the steps involved, lessons learnt and opportunities following the first such translocation of Murray Crayfish into areas of the Murray River that have demonstrated no recovery following the blackwater disturbance.