Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00106:body:0:p65
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00106
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 198160–201143

populations will deliver a range of indirect biodiversity benefits. For example, increasing community awareness about the threatened status of Macquarie perch may assist in raising the profile of threatened species in general and may lead to increased opportunities to conserve and protect threatened species and aquatic biodiversity in the future.

12 Social, Economic and Cultural considerations
The presence of introduced fish species in areas that the Macquarie perch was once common has likely had major impacts on extinct populations, and it is likely that introduced fish species are continuing to threaten the few remaining extant populations of Macquarie perch. The halting of salmonid stocking activities in areas where there are Macquarie perch populations is likely to have some social and economic impact.
Most wild, self-sustaining populations of Macquarie perch are no longer the target of any commercial or recreational fishing activities. The species is protected from take across most of its range, except in Lake Dartmouth (and tributaries)  and the Yarra River, where the species did not exist naturally before individuals were first translocated there in 1857 (Wilson 1857).
The increased protection of the Macquarie perch prescribed in this plan is expected to result in recovery of populations, which could allow for fishing activities for the species to resume under appropriate fisheries management oversight, once the species has recovered to a level (across its entire range) in which there would be a strong case for delisting the species from its EPBC Act threatened status. It is predicted that such recovery of the species will present new social and economic opportunities.
In New South Wales, Macquarie perch were a significant source of food and totemic value for Indigenous communities, specifically for the Gamilaroi. The Gamilaroi would not take pregnant or juvenile fish, or spawning run fish. Medium-sized fish were selected as part of their food supply. The Macquarie perch was probably known as Wunnumberu (pronounced 'Wanambiyu') by the Dhudhuroa who lived along the upper Murray River and lower Kiewa and Mitta Mitta rivers (Trueman 2011). Other possible names are Nooraderri and Gubir by the Wiradjuri who lived in the area bordered by the Lachlan, Macquarie and Murrumbidgee rivers (Trueman 2011; About NSW 2013). Implementation of this plan should involve knowledge sharing, participation in education and training relevant to threatened species management and engagement in recovery actions where relevant to aboriginal land management and communities. Indigenous groups will be encouraged to take part in activities that are part of the recovery plan. Opportunities may exist through Australian Government funding schemes and programmes to engage with Indigenous groups and Traditional Owners on biodiversity issues relating to the Macquarie perch. Any proposal that could affect places of cultural importance will need to be discussed