Department of Fisheries researchers have helped bring the critically endangered hairy Margaret River marron back from the verge of extinction.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said it was gratifying that expert efforts had helped preserve the diversity of the marron species, a freshwater crustacean unique to Western Australia.

“Concerns about the displacement of hairy marron in Margaret River by the more common smooth marron that had escaped into the river and hybridised the two types have risen over the past few years,” Mr Moore said.

In 2005, the Department of Fisheries obtained a South West Catchments Council grant to collect hairy marron and established a breeding program with more than 1,500 wild marron collected from the river.

University of WA researchers helped develop a DNA test that distinguished between pure hairy marron and hybrids. DNA fingerprinting showed that only 15 per cent of the collected specimens were pure hairy marron, the rest were smooth marron hybrids.

As a result, 230 hairy marron were used to establish a genetic repository of the critically endangered species at the Department of Fisheries Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre (PFRC).

“The research centre is the biggest freshwater hatchery in WA and its successful breeding program has reached the stage where we have enough hairy marron to allow restocking of the Margaret River,” the Minister said.

“This week more than 2,000 hairy marron juveniles will be tagged and released in what scientists say will start a recovery program that will see up to 10,000 hairy marron restocked to the Margaret River each year.

“This effort will help re-establish this species in its natural environment and prevent extinction.”

Mr Moore congratulated project leader Craig Lawrence, technical officer Chris Bird, PFRC hatchery manager Tony Church and UWA researchers Phil Vercoe and Emily Trainer for their hard work in saving the hairy marron.