Adrain raises some good points that demonstrate that each country can be quite
different as to the circumstances involved. One big problem in Australia is
no one other than aquarists keep the smaller native fish. This resulted in an
interesting situation where a rainbowfish (as Adrian mentioned), Melanotaenia
eachamensis was illegally taken from a national park where it's only known (at
the time) habitat was. Then someone introduced predatory fish and they were
announced extinct in the wild, the only ones were in native fish enthusiasts
tanks. It has since been found in other areas (although their taxonomy is
still fluxing a little bit I think). They weren't very colourful either, but
there was one or two people with them. Now there are thousands of them all
over the world as everyone wanted them when they knew they were extinct in the
wild! There are no government or priviate hatcheries raising endangered
species except those suitable for angling purposes. Actually, there is one
exception, a Galaxias in Tasmania is being kept in a hatchery there, though I
don't know what success they've had. I think they were going to try that with
Galaxias fuscus in Victoria too. At least in the US, for western species
they usually go into a hatchery / refuge type situation to ensure backup
populations.
Clearly species like Elizabeth Springs goby would benefit from captive
programs. Their biggest problem is few people will keep them. They have
virtually no colour, no commercial value, etc. It would be a significant
tradgedy for them to disappear though, especially given their lack of study.
What does it take to remedy a situation like this? Did Rob Wager ever make
any suggestions regarding putting them in surrounding bores? I know he was
talking about it, but don't know if the powers that be ever followed though.
To me that's one of the better solutions, establish additional populations in
somewhat similar habitats. Nice thing out there is there are several bores
(wells) that they would do great in and it's not going to impact anything
else. Another alternative is have (at least) 3 or 4 people (or schools)
establish ponds for the fish. Mark Rosenqvist has been doing some great stuff
in schools with extinct in the wild pupfishes! Both teaching the kids and
collecting a lot of good life history data. Aquarists can only do so much
with limited tank space etc etc. That's not to say their efforts are not of
value, just that there may be better ways of achieving the same ends. Hooking
up / developing a broader network of interest and resources being one of them.
Cheers
Peter Unmack