A native fish species declared extinct in Victoria in 1998 is the focus of an inspiring new breeding program at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. 

For more than 20 years, the southern purple-spotted gudgeon was thought to be extinct until two of the fish were discovered near Kerang in 2019. Since then the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been determined to restore a thriving population of the so-called “zombie fish” by establishing a breeding program. 

SEA LIFE Melbourne has seized a rare opportunity to partner with North Central CMA to house a number of the endangered fish and create the perfect environment for breeding while also educating visitors on the importance of wetland conservation. 

“We are proud to help support the recovery of the southern purple-spotted gudgeon. We currently have a population of sub-juvenile fish here and are aiming for them to have their first fry (offspring) within 6-12 months. Once they are around 2-3cm long, the next step will be to rehome the new generation into pest-free ‘surrogate’ sites to further establish the population before hopefully reintroducing them in native wetlands around northern Victoria,” said Sam Fawke, Curatorial Supervisor at SEA LIFE Melbourne. 

“It’s the first time SEA LIFE Melbourne has bred native fish onsite with the aim of releasing them into the wild. We hope to be involved in more programs like this in the future to help conserve marine and freshwater species, particularly those that are endemic to Victoria.”

This is the first time the North Central CMA has partnered with SEA LIFE Melbourne.

“We are really excited to be involved in the breeding program. It’s a terrific opportunity to raise the profile of the southern purple-spotted gudgeon and will also give visitors to the Aquarium a glimpse into the work we do to protect and enhance the environment across 13% of Victoria,” said Peter Rose, Project Manager at North Central CMA. 

Visitors to SEA LIFE Melbourne can currently see the southern purple-spotted gudgeon up-close and learn about the breeding program in the newly created Wetlands Recovery Nursery on Level 1. The Aquarium is open 7 days per week with tickets and further information available at www.visitsealife.com/melbourne. 

About the southern purple-spotted gudgeon

• The southern purple-spotted gudgeon (mogurnda adspersa) is an attractive purplish-brown to yellowish-brown small fish; that has a rounded head and a small mouth.
• The fish grow up to 12cm, breed best in summer and like to live in dense reeds.
• It is thought that the population declined in Victoria as a result of increased river regulation, habitat destruction and the introduction of pest species. 
• After the rediscovery of the fish in Victoria in 2019, the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon Advisory Group was set up, with representatives and experts from the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning, North Central CMA, Arthur Rylah Institute, Connections, Goulburn Murray Water, Parks Victoria, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, and environmental services company Austral Research and Consulting.