Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake - Austral Research and Consulting undertake fish sampling in the Lower Balonne, including Narran Lakes, on behalf of the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake - Unbaited cylindrical fyke nets, which rely on the fish to swim into them, are used to capture the fish.

Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake

Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake - Fish species are identified, length recorded, and any fish health observations noted.

Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake – Processing samples.

Narran Lakes’ Clear Lake - The length of a common yabby (Cherax destructor destructor) is being measured. Large numbers were encountered in the Narran River around Narran Park.

Bony bream (Nematalosa erebi) were the most abundant native species encountered across the survey sites. Image: Austral Consulting.

A Hyrtl’s catfish (Neosilurus hyrtlii).

Narran River, Wilby Wilby - Austral mussel (Hyridella australis).

Wongalea Station, Bokohara River - A baby Broad Shelled Turtle (Chelodina expansa). Image: Austral Consulting.

Balonne River, St George - The NSW and federally listed Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii). Image: Austral Consulting.

Electrofishing, where a field of electricity is generated in the water, is an efficient fishing method that temporarily stuns fish, allowing them to be easily caught, data to be collected, and the fish returned to the water unharmed.

Narran River, Wilby Wilby - Boat electrofishing.

Backpack electrofishing is another technique used.

Narran River, Wilby Wilby - processing samples.

Narran River – ‘Old’ Broad-shelled turtle (Chelodina expansa). Image: Austral Consulting.

Narran River, Wilby Wilby - Seine netting.

Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) were widespread across the survey sites.

Spangled perch (Leiopotherapon unicolor) were also widely distributed across the survey locations.

Narran River – scar tree