Tasmania creates trout-free havens for native fish with only 6,000 left

Conservation workers are building barriers and clearing waterways to save native Swan galaxias. This tiny fish faces extinction after brown trout were introduced over 160 years ago. Natural barriers helped some populations survive, but droughts and floods pose risks. Teams are creating trout-free refuges and moving fish to safe, isolated catchments. These efforts balance angling tradition with crucial species recovery for native wildlife.