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The beautiful Barred Galaxias (Galaxias fuscus) is a critically endangered small native freshwater fish found in the headwaters of the Goulburn River in Victoria. Due largely to it's very restricted distribution and the adverse impacts of introduced predatory trout, the few remaining populations of Barred Galaxias are heavily fragmented and isolated from one another. This means that single populations are particularly vulnerable to threats from wildfires, siltation and logging, with no way of that population being re-established should it go locally extinct.
Barred Galaxias are listed as a Threatened species by the Victorian Government and as a Critically Endangered species by the IUCN. As such they are afforded full protection and cannot be taken from the wild or kept in captivity (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988). Their survival into the future depends upon the protection of the towering forest giants that surround the clear cool streams of the mountains, and on ongoing measures to stop the upstream spread of introduced trout.
Best watched in HD full screen mode if you have good download speeds.
This is a 5 minute edited version. There is an option at the end of the video to watch a 20 minute unedited clip – strictly for keen fish watchers only, but grab a coffee first!
