@Colin_T, am I doing well in protecting wetlands unlike the govt. departments you mentioned? I have a wish, a big one. I wish I protected the wetlands, rivers and swamps in the Southwest and Northwest regions of the state.
You don't need anyone like Graham to help you get fish, just go collecting. Most of the salamanderfish are found in shallow water (less than 1 foot deep). You wear shoes or rubber boots so you don't cut your feet on anything that might be in there and to reduce the chance of snake bites. Then scoop around the water (carefully push the net along the bottom) and see what you catch. You get fish and crustaceans (freshwater crayfish like Gilgies and Marron).
Ah, yes. I might not like to go all alone, so I might need some guys at ANGFA WA to help me find the elusive salamanderfish.
And here is the almost complete letter draft to the Prime Minister. My twin brother is going to be my carrier pigeon because he's going to Canberra for a schools convention and the PM is visiting in that convention:
'I am concerned about the lack of action in regards to our unique environment from the federal and the Western Australian governments. This especially goes for our wetlands, swamps, rivers and our native freshwater fishes, many of which are endangered in the wild. I understand that our wetlands, swamps and rivers need serious help and need a lot of action. There are fish rarer than tigers; if we can save tigers, why not save native freshwater fishes?
The salamanderfish (Lepidogalaxias salamandroides), from Southwestern Australia, is one of these rare fish under threat from climate change, habitat loss and human activity. They are the only fish in the world to turn their head independently and they have been around since the dinosaurs. However, if we don’t take action now, they will be extinct within the next two decades, like the dinosaurs did 66 million years ago. And they have not been bred in captivity, either.
Expert (not beginner) aquarium hobbyists and scientists from Perth have been wanting to breed this fish in order to save what’s left of their population, however, due to the strict laws and blanket bans on hobbyist-captive breeding native fish by WA state govt. departments, I believe that the blanket bans on hobbyist-captive breeding native fish imposed by the WA government hurt the aquarium hobby and the scientists that want to save the salamanderfish from potential extinction. I understand that the law is the law, but a good idea is to loosen the blanket bans for expert hobbyists and scientists. Captive breeding programs are a good idea for some rare species including the prehistoric salamanderfish. They are one of the only ways to save rare fish from extinction, the other being habitat protection. The aquarium hobby is here for a good reason, and it’s changing to a more conservation-based approach over time. Without the hobby, freshwater fishes will be extinct in the near future.
The lack of action to our natural environment is concerning because if the fishes die, ecosystems die with them. The climate is getting hotter and there is less water for native animals. Trees and shrubs are replaced with buildings and other manmade structures. And the WA government needs to do something about it.'
