Current projects on Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon

Stocking in Northern NSW

For nearly seven years, NSW DPIRD Fisheries has been helping Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon make a comeback through a successful breeding program at the Grafton Hatchery.

The program began during the devastating 2018–19 drought, when fish were rescued from drying waterways across northern NSW. These fish became the original broodstock for a long-term conservation breeding program, ensuring the species was protected while natural conditions recovered.

Today, the program supports stocking at multiple sites across the state, including the Border Rivers and the Gwydir catchment. Nearly seven years on, the Grafton Hatchery has produced more than 45,000 Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon, playing a vital role in rebuilding populations and safeguarding the species’ future in NSW.

Kings of the jungle at Dubbo now have Purple Spots

In one of Australia’s more unusual conservation success stories, Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon are thriving alongside lions at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

In 2019, more than 70 fish were rescued from drying waterbodies in the Macquarie catchment as drought conditions worsened. With few natural refuge options available, the fish were relocated to the moat surrounding the Lion Pride exhibit at the zoo for safekeeping.

DPIRD Fisheries worked closely with the staff at the zoo to create suitable habitat in the moat, installing shelter pipes and planting native aquatic vegetation to support breeding. Annual monitoring has shown the population has settled in well, with multiple breeding events recorded.

In a major milestone, fish from this population were returned to the wild for the first time in 2024 and again in 2025, marking a significant step in reconnecting this rescued population with its natural environment.

Monitoring the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon population at Western Plains Zoo (1 min 9 secs)

Rescuing the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon (1 min 12 secs)

Environmental Trust Grant Helps Secure Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon in the Macquarie Catchment

Funding from the NSW Environmental Trust has been instrumental in helping Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon return home to the Macquarie catchment.

Buckinbah Creek was severely impacted during the 2019 drought, with flows dropping so low that parts of the creek began to dry out completely. To prevent the local population from being lost, DPIRD Fisheries staff rescued the remaining fish and relocated them to Taronga Western Plains Zoo for safekeeping until conditions improved.

With support from the Environmental Trust, a major recovery project was undertaken to improve habitat and protect the creek for the long term. Works included installing around 2 kilometres of fencing to exclude stock, stabilising creek banks, and re-establishing native riparian vegetation to improve water quality and fish habitat.

As conditions improved, the project reached a major milestone with the return of fish to the wild. Fifty-six fish were reintroduced to Buckinbah Creek in September 2024, followed by a further 335 fish in May 2025, marking the first two translocation events for fish bred and maintained at the zoo.

This work has been made possible through the invaluable support of our partners - Taronga Western Plains Zoo, local landholders, and OzFish — and with funding from the NSW Environmental Trust. Together, these efforts are helping secure a stronger future for Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon in the Macquarie catchment.

See Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon for more information about the species.