Calling for help to restore Fish Passage

In a move to enhance aquatic health in the Murray Catchment the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Murray Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is calling for help to restore fish passage.

The Murray CMA are seeking expressions of interest from landholders, local governments, community groups, individuals, recreational fishing groups and environmental groups who have potential habitat restoration projects to apply for grants to restore fish passage.

DPI Conservation Manager Adam Vey said DPI had been appointed manager of the CMA's Murray Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project.

"The project will fund small scale works that will improve fish passage in the Murray Catchment," he said.

"Structures such as road crossings, block banks, weirs, levees, regulators and dams can block the free passage of fish and impact upon their lifecycle processes such as migration and spawning.

"These structures can be removed or modified to ensure fish can move freely between habitats."

The CMA is providing $50,000 and NSW DPI is contributing $16,000 through in-kind resources such as project management and use of office facilities.

The project is one of several funded from the CMA three-year investment strategy from Commonwealth and State Natural Heritage Trust 2 and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality interim funding.

As a guide, the following information should be supplied to DPI to assist in the determination of appropriate sites for fish passage repair:

  • Exact location of the site within the Murray Catchment (eg. map details, water course name, road name, property name, address, etc).
  • Photographs of the site.
  • Outline of the current status of site and the purpose of the potential works.
  • Accurate details of ownership, potential stakeholders and interest groups (eg, property owners, users, etc).
  • Identify potential cost sharing or resourcing options to assist in cost benefit analysis .

The information should be sent to: Murray CMA Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project, C/- NSW DPI (Fisheries), 3/556 Macauley Street, ALBURY NSW 2640.

Expressions of interest will be received up until 1 February 2004.

MEDIA CONTACT: SARAH CHESTER - 0417 207 669