Improving fish passage through wetland flow control structures in the lower River Murray

This project was a collaboration between scientists from NSW DPI and the Australian Landscape Trust as well as many volunteers. Fish movement was monitored into and out of managed and unmanaged Murray River wetlands in the Riverland region of South  Australia between 2000 to 2003. The project aimed to improve how wetland inlet structures were managed for fish.

At the time of the study, wetlands in this region were solely managed to improve vegetation condition. Water quality and flow regime variables were used to identify fish movement triggers.

A total of 121,190 fish were sampled from 2000 – 2002 using directionally set fyke nets in eight wetlands, wetland inlet channels and adjacent waterways (mainstem River Murray or anabranch). A limited tagging program ran from April 2001 – December 2002, tagging 304 fish and achieving 8 recaptures.

The project also supported University of Adelaide Engineering student investigations. Topics included: analysis of long term fish catch records of Lock 6 fishway; use of fish exclusion screens on wetland inlet structures; carp swimming behaviour; and carp behavioural deterrents.