Whole new world for fish on NSW South Coast
Fish on the NSW South Coast will soon be on their way, with work starting on a fishway to allow them unimpeded access up and down Currowan Creek, Industry and Investment NSW Conservation Manager, Scott Nichols, said today.
A full-width rock ramp fishway is being completed at The River Road, in Currowan Creek, approximately 20 kilometres north west of Batemans Bay.
"When the works are complete, fish will have access to up to 16 kilometres of excellent upstream habitat," Mr Nichols said.
"Many native fish need to migrate as part of their life cycle - accessing estuarine environments to breed, with adults and juveniles returning to freshwaters to grow and mature.
"But the current causeway structure at Currowan Creek, which is a tributary of the Clyde River, acts as a fish passage barrier until it is overtopped in high flows.
"Structures such as road causeways and weirs can affect native fishs ability to move upstream, limiting the habitat available to them until high flows occur
"A full width rock ramp fishway aims to create a series of pools and small steps within a channel that allow fish to negotiate the rise in water level that is present across the causeway. Either side of the channel, rocks are placed to enable fish passage at higher flows.
"The threatened Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena) is likely to be one species that will benefit from these works, with other species such as the recreationally important Australian Bass, and smaller species such as common jollytail also using the fishway."
Minor interruptions to traffic are expected as the work is completed over the next month or so.
The total project cost is estimated at $130,000 and is funded by the Federal Government through Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, as part of the Bringing Back the Fish project, the NSW Governments Recreational Saltwater Fishing Trust, and delivered in partnership with Shoalhaven City Council, and Eurobodalla Shire Council.
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Media contact: Sarah McGregor 0427 075 167