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Threatened Species
There are 12 native fish species, five crayfish and several other aquatic invertebrates listed on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and eight fish recognised by Commonwealth legislation, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
There are 12 native fish species, five crayfish and several other aquatic invertebrates listed on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and eight fish recognised by Commonwealth legislation, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means they may not be disturbed or harmed in any way without a permit from the Threatened Species Unit (Department of Primary Industries and Water) and the Service. Two of these species, the giant freshwater lobster and the grayling, are also ‘protected fish’ under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 and they may not be caught or otherwise disturbed.
Of the 12 fish listed on the State’s threatened species list, all are galaxiids with the exception of the Australian grayling. In addition, all species of freshwater crayfish, particularly the giant freshwater lobster (Astacopsis gouldi) are protected from fishing. Penalties for taking threatened or protected species are considerable, costing those convicted as much as $10,000.
Threatened Species List
| Species | Conservation | Status |
| Pedder galaxias | Galaxias pedderensis | Endangered |
| Swan galaxias | Galaxias fontanus | Endangered |
| Clarence galaxias | Galaxias johnstoni | Endangered |
| saddled galaxias | Galaxias tanycephalus | Vulnerable |
| swamp galaxias | Galaxias parvus | Rare |
| golden galaxias | Galaxias auratus | Rare |
| Great lake paragalaxias | Paragalaxias eleotroides | Vulnerable |
| western paragalaxias | Paragalaxias julianus | Rare |
| Shannon paragalaxias | Paragalaxias dissimilis | Vulnerable |
| Arthurs paragalaxias | Paragalaxias mesotes | Endangered |
| Australian grayling | Prototroctes maraena | Vulnerable |
| Dwarf galaxiid | Galaxiella pusilla | Rare |
| Giant Freshwater Lobster | Astacopsis gouldi | Endangered |
| Furneaux burrowing crayfish | Engaeus martigener | Vulnerable |
| Mt Arthur burrowing crayfish | Engaeus orramakunna | Vulnerable |
| Scottsdale burrowing crayfish | Engaeus spinicaudatus | Vulnerable |
| Burnie burrowing crayfish | Engaeus yabbimunna | Vulnerable |
| caddisflies | (2 species) | Endangered |
| caddisflies | (13 species) | Vulnerable |
| aquatic isopods | (5 species) | Rare |
| aquatic amphipod | Tasniphargus tyleri | Rare |
| Hickmans pigmy mountain shrimp | Allanaspides hickmani | Rare |
| hydrobiid snails | (2 species) | Vulnerable |
| hydrobiid snails | (41 species) | Rare |
Tasmanian Galaxias Recovery Program
The Inland Fisheries Service is currently implementing a recovery plan for 5 endemic galaxias species. Recovery actions detailed in the plan include monitoring the remaining natural populations, establishment and monitoring of translocated populations, habitat management (land use, barriers to introduced fish etc), captive breeding methods and information and education.
