Boost for native fish stocks follows NRAR legal agreement
Thousands of native fingerlings have been released into the Namoi River at Wee Waa following action by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR).
The fish release was part of an enforceable undertaking (EU) agreed to by the independent water regulator after significant over-extraction of groundwater by an irrigator from the region.
NRAR accepted the legally binding agreement in June last year from the owner of a property after they allegedly pumped almost 585 megalitres more than their bore extraction limit. The amount of water was equivalent to 234 Olympic swimming pools.
The water was taken from the at-risk Lower Namoi Groundwater Source, part of the Namoi River catchment.
Under the terms of the agreement, the irrigator forfeited more than a third of their FY21-22 groundwater allocation and contributed $15,000 towards fish stocking in the Namoi River.
The golden perch fingerlings were supplied by Narrabri Fish Farm, which specialises in four native fish species - golden perch, Murray cod, eel-tailed catfish and silver perch.
The golden perch were released at multiple sites along the river to maximise survival rates.
NRAR Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes was on hand to see some of the fish released into the Namoi at Wee Waa.
“The release of these fish has many potential benefits for the environment like helping boost native fish populations and restore river ecology,” Mr Barnes said.
“The money supports the local fish hatchery and potentially improves fish stocks for fishing clubs at Narrabri and Wee Waa.”
Mr Barnes said enforceable undertakings were typically used when a company or individual breached NSW water laws in a significant way.
“An EU is sometimes proposed to NRAR to remedy a breach as an alternative to court action," he said.
“It should contain actions to address the rule breaking and to acknowledge the breach of the Water Management Act 2000, and it is legally binding.
"When we decide if an EU is the right course of action, we consider what happened, how serious it was and whether there is a history of rule breaking.
“An EU will not be accepted unless NRAR considers it can deliver positive outcomes in the public interest in accordance with its guidelines.
Five EUs were finalised in the 2021-22 financial year with a range of outcomes and conditions.
Examples include improvements to a community park at Hay and funding of an education program for primary school children at remote NSW schools.
Other enforceable undertakings are under consideration.
