A Very Special Fish %u2013 Australian Lungfish under Threat
A Very Special Fish %u2013 Australian Lungfish under Threat
The Queensland Government%u2019s surprise decision (5 July 2006) to proceed with a very large dam on the Mary River threatens the survival of one of the most scientifically important animals on earth. Throughout most of its length for most of the year, the Mary is nothing more than a small, meandering coastal creek but it is uniquely important as habitat for several of the country%u2019s endangered species. One of these is the Australian or Queensland lungfish, a %u2018living fossil%u2019 that has existed unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. Of all living fish groups, the lungfish are the closest relatives of the land vertebrates %u2013 the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including ourselves. Lungfish were abundant 400 million years ago, during the Devonian (the %u201CAge of Fish%u201D) but have now dwindled to only three kinds, respectively living in South America, Africa and Australia. The South American and African forms are weirdly modified larval-looking creatures, but the Australian lungfish is still very similar to those ancient fish that gave rise to the first land vertebrates. It is thus uniquely important to scientists studying the origin of land animals.
Fossils show that the Australian lungfish was alive as it is today already during the Cretaceous, alongside the dinosaurs. This probably makes it the oldest living vertebrate species. At that time it was much more widespread than it is today. Now it only occurs naturally in the Mary and Burnett rivers in SE Queensland. Introductions into other rivers in the past have largely been unsuccessful, with the exception of the Brisbane River, but this population of lungfish is only just hanging on due to extensive damming of the river to provide water for greater Brisbane. Australian lungfish have an absolute requirement for shallow, slow-flowing, densely vegetated riffles as spawning and nursery habitat. These environmental features are characteristic of both the Burnett and the Mary but it is exactly these features that are lost entirely by permanent flooding resulting from the construction of dam walls. Dams thus pose a mortal threat to the long-term survival of the lungfish populations.
A mega dam was completed late 2005 on the Burnett River. When it is full, it will have permanently destroyed 42 km of lungfish spawning/nursery grounds. Prior to construction of this dam the lungfish were listed as vulnerable on the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. With the destruction of their spawning/nursery habitat on the Burnett and now even greater destruction on the Mary, should this dam go ahead, that listing would need to be revised to %u2018critically endangered%u2019. The dam can still be stopped by the Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, but he needs to be persuaded to act.
The significance of the Australian lungfish cannot be overstated. As a %u2018living fossil%u2019 it provides the only opportunity to study the development and physiology of the aquatic predecessors of all land vertebrates, including ourselves. Australia is the custodian of this invaluable information source for the rest of the world. The answer to Queensland%u2019s water problem lies in education on water use and smart new technologies, not in damming a fragile coastal river system and willfully extinguishing a uniquely important animal.
A Very Special Fish %u2013 Australian Lungfish under Threat
The Queensland Government%u2019s surprise decision (5 July 2006) to proceed with a very large dam on the Mary River threatens the survival of one of the most scientifically important animals on earth. Throughout most of its length for most of the year, the Mary is nothing more than a small, meandering coastal creek but it is uniquely important as habitat for several of the country%u2019s endangered species. One of these is the Australian or Queensland lungfish, a %u2018living fossil%u2019 that has existed unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. Of all living fish groups, the lungfish are the closest relatives of the land vertebrates %u2013 the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including ourselves. Lungfish were abundant 400 million years ago, during the Devonian (the %u201CAge of Fish%u201D) but have now dwindled to only three kinds, respectively living in South America, Africa and Australia. The South American and African forms are weirdly modified larval-looking creatures, but the Australian lungfish is still very similar to those ancient fish that gave rise to the first land vertebrates. It is thus uniquely important to scientists studying the origin of land animals.
Fossils show that the Australian lungfish was alive as it is today already during the Cretaceous, alongside the dinosaurs. This probably makes it the oldest living vertebrate species. At that time it was much more widespread than it is today. Now it only occurs naturally in the Mary and Burnett rivers in SE Queensland. Introductions into other rivers in the past have largely been unsuccessful, with the exception of the Brisbane River, but this population of lungfish is only just hanging on due to extensive damming of the river to provide water for greater Brisbane. Australian lungfish have an absolute requirement for shallow, slow-flowing, densely vegetated riffles as spawning and nursery habitat. These environmental features are characteristic of both the Burnett and the Mary but it is exactly these features that are lost entirely by permanent flooding resulting from the construction of dam walls. Dams thus pose a mortal threat to the long-term survival of the lungfish populations.
A mega dam was completed late 2005 on the Burnett River. When it is full, it will have permanently destroyed 42 km of lungfish spawning/nursery grounds. Prior to construction of this dam the lungfish were listed as vulnerable on the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. With the destruction of their spawning/nursery habitat on the Burnett and now even greater destruction on the Mary, should this dam go ahead, that listing would need to be revised to %u2018critically endangered%u2019. The dam can still be stopped by the Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, but he needs to be persuaded to act.
The significance of the Australian lungfish cannot be overstated. As a %u2018living fossil%u2019 it provides the only opportunity to study the development and physiology of the aquatic predecessors of all land vertebrates, including ourselves. Australia is the custodian of this invaluable information source for the rest of the world. The answer to Queensland%u2019s water problem lies in education on water use and smart new technologies, not in damming a fragile coastal river system and willfully extinguishing a uniquely important animal.
Save the Australian lungfish by not damming the Mary River.
Letter to Ministers
Recipients:
Senator Ian Campbell, Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage
Premier Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland
Dear Sir/ Madam,
We who have signed this petition, request your attention regarding the listing of the Australian lungfish as vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999, and the consequences of this listing in granting approval for the construction of a dam on the Mary River in South Eastern Queensland. This river, along with the Burnett River, and to a much lesser extent the Brisbane River, provides the last vestige of native habitat for the Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri). The fact that the Brisbane River is heavily dammed and a large dam on the Burnett River was completed in December 2005 means it is imperative that the Mary River is kept dam free.
The Australian Lungfish has very specific breeding requirements, including shallow and weedy running water. The lungfish also lays few eggs and returns to the same breeding sites year after year. The provision of a means for fish to traverse the dam wall will not preserve their spawning/nursery sites. When at full capacity, the dam on the Burnett River will flood 42km of prime lungfish spawning sites, a situation which if repeated on the Mary River will take the listing of the Australian Lungfish under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) from vulnerable to critically endangered. The likely long-term effect would be the extinction of the species.
As well as its intrinsic value to the Australian environment, the Australian Lungfish is recognised internationally to be of immense scientific importance %u2013 see emails sent by concerned scientists over last few months. There is no doubt that Australia is experiencing a severe water management crisis. Queensland in particular is already experiencing water shortages and if the rapidly increasing population is considered, the situation can only become increasingly dire. However, the solutions to these problems must not entail the destruction of our existing environmental heritage. The survival of the lungfish is a matter that concerns not just Australia but the whole world. With this petition we record our firm opinion that the extinction of the Australian lungfish would be a scientific catastrophe and a permanent stain on Australia%u2019s environmental record. We call upon the Federal Government to stop the construction of the Mary River dam in accordance with its responsibilities under the EPBC Act.
Yours very truly
We the undersigned
protect their habitat at all costs.
When our children and grandchildren in the future look back on this dam, and the disastrous impact (and likely extinction) on the Australian lungfish, it will seem as apalling and misguided as hunting the Tasmanian tiger to extinction. Please halt this proposal, and find an alternative. It is just north worth it. Find another way. Please.
Biodiversity is so important...it is ridiculous to put another animal under more threat......the fish is beautiful for itself and the fact it has survived in such a form for so many years...how arrogant are we to do this?
This is a very important fish, do not risk it.
If only the governments of the world were serious about protecting our natural environments and endangered species. Can you imagine the health of the planet, and all the beings that reside on earth? I urge the Australian governments at Federal, State and Local level to act now to protect the ancient Lungfish from possible extinction. Future generations will judge todays leaders on these type of decisions. Peace to all, sean
Dams are old technology-we can be smarter than that
Utilities need to smarten up on how they efficiently service customers, rather than take the easy way out by building more dams
I am an Australian living in Canada and feel strongly that this petition should be heeded by those with the power to save the Mary River.
I grew up near the Burnett and Mary Rivers, the habitat of the lung fish - and the lung fish is part of what makes my home special. The proposed dam will not greatly increase SE QLD's watersupply, but will submerge numerous remnant vegetation communities of significant conservation value - and will needlessly endanger the future of the lung fish. We do not have the right to diminish the evolutionary heritage of Australia, and I do not want to see my home region become less wonderful than it is. Water saving measures and water recycling have not been sufficiently explored in QLD, and these avenues should be pursued, rather than simply building one more pointless dam.
I strongly believe that humans should respect the other inhabitants of this planet. But we are gradually killing the wild inhabitants of our planet, and destroying the places in which they live. Ultimately, we will pay a huge price, but by then it will be too late to turn the clock back. Scientists must start to talk about the ethics of planetary care - with other scientists and the community at large.
Water suppy and water security for people are critical issues, but so are issues of biodiversity conservation in freshwaters. Biodiversity losses from streams and rivers is higher than for terrestrial or marine systems, globally, and freshwater species are among the most imperilled on earth. Conservation is particularly important for animals such as the Queensland lung fish, which as extremely high conservation values on a global scale. This dam proposal is a serious threat to the species. The Queensland lung fish should be considered as an icon of Queensland and protected into the future. More appropriate (and effective) measures of continuing water suppy to south east Queensland than major dams on the Mary river must be given prioirty. The Mary River should be designated as a freshwater protected area as it is home to the lungfish, and several other endemic species, including the Mary River cod and turtle. To dam the Mary River would represent extremely irresponsible resource management, that would have negative ramifications on a global scale.
When we know that the Mary Catchment will not be sufficient to provide sufficient water for Brisbane futur needs and that it will destroy one of the last habitat available to this very special and unique species, it is inacceptable and an aberration to take such 'easy fix' measures....
Saving the Mary River lungfish is truly an international issue due to its global significance. In the United States, we have regretted many of our past dam construction projects that have exterminated unique aquatic species. In fact, in the US, we are actively taking dams down at the rate of hundreds per year to restore habitat for critically endangered fish. Queensland has proven to itself and the world that innovative solutions to water resource problems can be implemented to reduce water consumption or develop sustainable supplies. The Mary River Dam project is based on archaic water resource development ideologies, which externalize the true costs of water supplies at the expense of the natural environment. Queensland must learn from the past and continue its recent progress and innovation in sustainable water resource management. This dam is not needed, will permanently destroy critical habitat, and should not be built.
I used to feed 'Speedy' the lungfish when I worked at the Queensland Museum. For an endangered species, he was a really cool dude.
I truely believe Queensland residents are ready to keep saving water if it means protecting important national habitat for the lungfish. Let's watch every drop so we can protect biodiversity and important species. As well as promote our own survival by saving water and other resources, and protecting biodiversity.
I am appalled by the political trade offs and rigid attitude displayed by the Quensland Government. The new Premier, Anna Bligh sems unable to take on board public opinion on a matter that is not subjective. Moreover it seems that a research base for the lungfish is being used to placate academics - oh never mind - yes we a going to build the dam anyway but look arent we kind here's soems money now to study the lungfish. Maybe that what we expect of someone She graduated with an Arts Degree from The University of Queensland in Social Sciences in 1980. I expect she has no idea of issues.
The Australian lungfish is already classed as 'vulnerable' and will likely be seriously threatened by the new dam, and the regulation of flows, in the Mary River, Queensland, the last free-flowing river supporting this ancient species within its natural geographic range. Australia's prominent standing with respect to river ecosystem research, river health monitoring, water allocation for the environment (environmental flows) and biodiversity conservation will be significantly diminished if this iconic species is further threatened by another impoundment and the associated regulation of river flows. In this era of acute awareness of the global decline in freshwater biodiversity, when dams are being decommissioned and more natural flow regimes are being restored throughout the world, Australia has an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to innovative and sustainable water management, river ecosystem protection and biodiversity conservation. This is the ideal time to set an example for the rest of the world, by showing that Australia can manage its limited freshwater resources under severe drought conditions, yet at the same time protect unique elements of its native biodiversity. Keeping the Mary River free-flowing is the best (and last) option for conserving and studying the Australian lungfish in its natural riverine habitats.
Tp protect the Lungfish the River must not be dammed, it is also home to the Mary River Cod and the Mary River Turtle, these two only live in this river.
i love fish, save them! they dont deserve to die or be eaten
The Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri represents one-sixth of the Earth%u2019s lungfish biodiversity. Like much of Australia%u2019s remarkable fauna, this evolutionary relict is morphologically distinct from African or South American lungfishes in having only one lung. Given the fish%u2019s ancient lineage, it would not surprise me if this species had biochemical adaptations beneficial to humans. However, we should not require any organism to have a recognized value to humans in order to save it. We have a moral obligation to conserve our fellow species.
