Sophia Mobbs

One of Canberra’s most iconic features is the artificial ‘Lake Burley Griffin’, originally designed to be the focal point of the city. The lake was built using the foundations of the Molonglo River, which was once a well-known fish river due to the abundance of native fish inhabitants. Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch were the three prominent native fish species that thrived in the Molonglo River, but since the construction of our feature lake, are now absent. The lake has now become the home of a wide variety of introduced species such as Carp, Redfin and Gambusia, and now has to be regularly stocked with native fish to avoid habitat destruction caused by ‘pests’ such as the European Carp. While the lake is a place of recreational activities and provides enjoyment for the people of Canberra, what complications will occur as a result of altering our natural marine environment?