GOLDEN PERCH INFORMATION
In a recently published research paper, Oficialdegui et al. (2025) showed that global aquaculture has increasingly relied on farming species outside their native ranges. Indeed, the study identified that the annual growth rate of non-native species produced in aquaculture now exceeds that of native species — and in 2022 alone, 32 million tonnes of non-native aquatic species were farmed, accounting for 37% of the world’s total aquaculture production.
Source: Aquaculture Magazine, 3rd Feb 2026 https://aquaculturemag.com/
Golden perch are ONLY found in Australia
There are three species of Golden Perch.
Macquaria ambigua ambigua from the Murray Darling River Basins
Macquaria ambigua oriens from the Fitzroy Dawson river basins
Macquaria Sp from the Lake Eyre Basin
Only the species from the Lake Eyre Basin has proven to be suitable for commercial aquaculture.
The other species failed to grow at commercial rates.
These fish come from a very hostile environment.
Fish in Australian rivers must be able to cope well with the “feast and famine” nature of many of the river systems in Australia.
These rivers can be dry for months, even years.
During the long dry periods the large water holes are the surviving refuge for many species of Australian native fishes, especially the golden perch and jade perch species that come from this unique habitat
The Lake Eyre Basin is one of the driest river basins in the world.
Google saidthe Lake Eyre Basin is one of the world's most arid regions, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 140–242 mm across its vast 1.28 million square kilometre area.
After flooding the natural food supply for these fish is abundant.
This is almost always during the warmer months of the year.
This glut of food is in extreme contrast compared to a drought situation where the fish struggle find food.
Also during the cooler water temperatures experienced in winter (usually the dry season) the fish are less active and probably rarely feed.
The stored fat will be used to help the fish survive in these situations.
In aquaculture, fish are grown in an artificial environment such as a commercial fish pond or a RAS.
They are in fact being kept in a permanent “feast” situation.
The fish grow rapidly and store fat as quick as they can, to be ready for the “famine”, which never comes in a controlled aquaculture situation.
Footnote: Golden perch are predators; however, they can be converted to aquaculture pellets.
The species from the Lake Eyre Basin (the Barcoo River in particular) are quite easy to convert to aquaculture food.
This probably reflects the species' survival behaviour.
Because of the harsh environment they are native to, they must try anything that might be food.
BELOW: Lake Eyre golden
BELOW: Murray Darling
BELOW: Fitzroy Dawson
The species from the Murray Darling River Basin is Macquaria ambigua ambigua.
Below the Murray River
The species from the Fitzroy Dawson river Basins is, Macquaria ambigua oriens.
Below the Dawson River
The species from the Lake Eyre Basin has not yet been described.
It is simply known as Macquaria sp.
Below the Thompson River. Part of the Lake Eyer Basin.
The map below shows the three river basins
BLUE: Murray/Darling Basin
RED: Lake Eyre Basin
YELLOW: Fitzroy/Dawson Basin
Click the picture for information about their habitat.
The red area is the natural range of Lake Eyre golden perch
More reading on golden perch species:
About Lake Eyre: Lake Eyre is a large, usually dry salt pan in the South Australian Outback, a dry and isolated environment.
Actually, it is Australia's largest salt lake.
It actually consists of two lakes, Lake Eyre North (8,430 km²) and Lake Eyre South (1,260 km²), connected by Goyder Channel which has a length of 15 km.
The huge salt lake is the terminal point of Australia's largest drainage system, the Lake Eyre basin.
The lake is also Australia's lowest point with 15.2 m below sea level in Belt Bay and Madigan Gulf.
The main tributaries into the lake are the rivers in south-west Queensland, the Diamantina and Georgina river systems and Cooper Creek.
Although these rivers flow quite frequently, they rarely reach Lake Eyre. 1990, Cooper Creek reached the lake for the first time in more than 20 years.
It took another 20 years until the Cooper made it to the lake again.
Western tributaries are the Neales and Macumba rivers.
In 1984 and 1989 the western tributaries filled Lake Eyre South within a few days.
Actually, it is Australia's largest salt lake.
It actually consists of two lakes, Lake Eyre North (8,430 km²) and Lake Eyre South (1,260 km²), connected by Goyder Channel which has a length of 15 km.
The huge salt lake is the terminal point of Australia's largest drainage system, the Lake Eyre basin.
The lake is also Australia's lowest point with 15.2 m below sea level in Belt Bay and Madigan Gulf.
The main tributaries into the lake are the rivers in south-west Queensland, the Diamantina and Georgina river systems and Cooper Creek.
Although these rivers flow quite frequently, they rarely reach Lake Eyre. 1990, Cooper Creek reached the lake for the first time in more than 20 years.
It took another 20 years until the Cooper made it to the lake again.
Western tributaries are the Neales and Macumba rivers.
In 1984 and 1989 the western tributaries filled Lake Eyre South within a few days.
Finally, the water overflowed to Lake Eyre North.
This is recorded as a very rare event, usually the northern lake fills first, and overflows the southern part.
This is recorded as a very rare event, usually the northern lake fills first, and overflows the southern part.
Prior to these events, it previously filled in 1950.
It is a fact that the lake had only filled to its full capacity three or four times within the last 150 years.
It only takes about two and a half years to dry up.
It is a fact that the lake had only filled to its full capacity three or four times within the last 150 years.
It only takes about two and a half years to dry up.
OTHER SPECIES
Click the picture for video - Low altitude passes over Barcoo River - with surprise ending
