0.5 0.2 http://twitter.com/ReviveOurRivers

Rivers in the Media

Funding cut threatens plan to restore fish populations

PUBLISHED: 21 SEPTEMBER 2012 SOURCE: www.theage.com.au

A 50-YEAR strategy to restore native fish populations across the Murray-Darling Basin is on the chopping block after state government officials decided to wind back its funding next year.

The Age believes the strategy's funding cull came at a recent meeting of basin states officials and follows a $20 million cut by the New South Wales government in its contribution to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority overseeing restoration plans for the river system.

The native fish strategy has been in place for almost 10 years and is one of the most successful and loved river programs. Conservationists, irrigators, and anglers are fuming and are looking at ways to ensure its future.

The strategy aims to restore native fish populations - including iconic species such as the Murray cod and Macquarie perch - to 60 per cent of numbers before European settlement.

In recent years populations have been estimated to be around 10 per cent.

Work under the strategy includes a massive fish ladder project between the Murray mouth and Lake Hume, providing safe passage for fish through 2225 kilometres of river.

Numerous habitat restoration projects, community outreach programs, and key scientific research have also emerged from the strategy, which has had a budget of about $2 to $3 million a year.

Under the next 10-year stage of the strategy it is proposed another 3900 kilometres of safe fish passage be developed. There is also an aim to allow no new incursions of pest fish species, among numerous other targets.

Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh said the NSW budget cuts had triggered a ''hard look'' at what the Murray-Darling Basin Authority did and how much it cost the states.

He said work was underway on a new financial plan to be brought to basin state ministers in October.

Read full article

Bolivia enacts law to protect Amazon pink dolphins

PUBLISHED: 21 SEPTEMBER 2012 SOURCE: www.bbc.co.uk

Bolivian President Evo Morales has enacted a law aimed at protecting a unique species of dolphins that live in the country's Amazon rivers.

The new legislation bans fishing freshwater pink dolphins and declares the species a national treasure.

At a ceremony along the shores of the Ibare river, President Morales called on the armed forces to protect the habitats of the pink dolphins

The species is threatened by erosion, pollution and logging in the Amazon.

The Bolivian pink dolphin, whose scientific name is Inia boliviensis, is similar to mammals found in neighbouring Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.

Male Bolivian freshwater pink dolphins can weigh up to 200kg (440 pounds).

An appendix to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Cites) says the species is vulnerable because of overfishing in the Amazon basin.

But it says the main threat is the contamination of rivers in the region by mercury, used in illegal gold mining operations.

China's famous Yangtze River turns red

PUBLISHED: 10 SEPTEMBER 2012 SOURCE: www.ninemsn.com.au

China's famed waterway, the Yangtze River, has left residents of the south-western city of Chongqing stunned after it turned a bright shade of red.

Nobody has determined the cause of the colour change but the mystery did not stop residents from taking samples and getting a closer look late last week.

Local fisherman also refused to let the transformation get in their way, continuing their work as usual as though nothing had happened.

Early predictions from scientists suggest the red colouring may have been a result of pollution.

More images

SEQ Catchments receives Australian Government NRM award

PUBLISHED: 06 SEPTEMBER 2012 SOURCE: www.seqcatchments.com.au

SEQ Catchments has taken out the Australian Government Natural Resource Management (NRM) Award at the 2011 Queensland Landcare Awards for its work with the Landcare community in delivering the South East Queensland NRM Plan 2009-2031.

The award also acknowledged SEQ Catchments’ support for Landcare across the South East Queensland region.

SEQ Catchments Northern Community Partnerships Manager Susie Chapman was also recognised with Australian Government Local Landcare Facilitator / Coordinator Award for her work in supporting Landcare, catchment and community groups across the Sunshine Coast region.

SEQ Catchments CEO Simon Warner said meeting the targets outlined in the SEQ NRM Plan depended upon partnerships with Landcare, community groups and individual landholders to carry out projects at the grassroots local level.

“Landholders play a fundamental role in protecting and sustaining the unique South East Queensland lifestyle, as the majority of the natural resources that are the focus of SEQ NRM Plan targets are on private land,” he said.

“That’s why SEQ Catchments focuses its efforts with local groups and landholders on education and property planning programs to ensure that improvements at the property level help achieve landscape level targets in the SEQ NRM Plan.

SEQ Catchments, with the support of Landcare groups and other partners, has already delivered some significant outcomes for South East Queensland’s environment with targets expected to be delivered on schedule or ahead of schedule by 2014.

SEQ Catchments undertook extensive public consultation over a four year period to ensure widespread community support for the SEQ NRM Plan and its delivery targets over the next five years.

“South East Queensland is now one of the few places in Australia where the concept of regional planning has attracted legislative support and recognition in the wider community,” Mr Warner said.

Read full article | SEQ Catchments

IRF Allumni News Feed

5 1

Contribute to our River News!

Would you like to write a story on something river related in your area? To do so, send us an original article that is 500 words or less (.txt or .doc files only), upload a picture in jpeg format (max 2mg) and if we like it, we’ll post it on our site as well as send you out an IRF gift pack.

Contact IRF | IRF Privacy Statement

Rivers in the Media

Funding cut threatens plan to restore fish populations

Bolivia enacts law to protect Amazon pink dolphins

China's famous Yangtze River turns red

SEQ Catchments receives Australian Government NRM award

IRF Allumni News Feed

Contribute to our River News!

Archive

Privacy Statement

Terms of Use

Online Contact Form

(Title Dynamically Inserted)

(Title Dynamically Inserted)

(Dynamically Inserted)

IRF eNewsletter Subscription

Apply Online for Riverprize