The beautiful Barred Galaxias (Galaxias fuscus) is a critically endangered small native freshwater fish found in the headwaters of the Goulburn River in Victoria. Due largely to it's very restricted distribution and the adverse impacts of introduced predatory trout, the few remaining populations of Barred Galaxias are heavily fragmented and isolated from one another. This means that single populations are particularly vulnerable to threats from wildfires, siltation and logging, with no way of that population being re-established should it go locally extinct.
Barred Galaxias are listed as a Threatened species by the Victorian Government and as a Critically Endangered species by the IUCN. As such they are afforded full protection and cannot be taken from the wild or kept in captivity (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988). Their survival into the future depends upon the protection of the towering forest giants that surround the clear cool streams of the mountains, and on ongoing measures to stop the upstream spread of introduced trout.
Recently I had the chance to explore some of the remaining beautiful tall Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests which hopefully soon will form part of the proposed Great Forest National Park. I came across a small creek and after spotting a fish decided to use my gopros to try and record some footage. Although the cameras were only in the creek for around 45 minutes or so, I was thrilled to download the footage at home and see the remarkable amount of fish activity caught on camera. Using a remote camera is a bit hit and miss as often you only get a fish swim past occasionally and sometimes not at all, but any activity you get tends to be much more natural than the flurry of activity you get when a bait is used. No baits were used in this video but otherwise the technique is similar to a BRUV.
This video represents an edited version of some of the highlights that were caught on camera.
You can see an unedited single 20 minute video clip here, but grab a coffee first!
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Best watched in HD in full screen mode.
#valleyofthegiants
For more information on Barred Galaxias see the Fishes of Australia website:
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CAAB Taxon Code: 37102023
For information, tips and tricks for using gopros in shallow water see my kneedeepvideo blog below:
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Please throw your support behind the establishment of the Great Forest National Park and put an end to old growth logging
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