Copied from the DEWNR website http://www.environme...goolwa-fishways
$2.9 million to help native fish species
Date posted: 27 May 2014
Minister Ian Hunter
Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation / Minister for Water and the River Murray / Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
A series of fishways will be built at the Murray Mouth barrages, enabling fish to move freely between the Coorong and Lower Lakes as part of their breeding and feeding cycle.
Speaking at Goolwa today on World Fish Migration Day, Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Ian Hunter said that currently, the barrages and spillways form a barrier that obstructs fish movement.
“The fishways will create a passage through these structures so fish can move between the freshwater lakes and the Coorong estuary,†he said.
“This will provide greater access to breeding areas and different feeding grounds while facilitating the spread of rare native species in the Coorong and Lower lakes area.
“Ultimately, it will help to ensure sustainability for more than 30 species of native fish and restore Murray-Darling Basin fish populations.â€
The Australian Government is providing $2.6 million which, together with almost $300,000 from South Australia, will enable this important project to happen.
“We are committed to working with South Australia to restore the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth to a healthy and resilient wetland of international importance,†Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Simon Birmingham said.
“The fishways project is part of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Recovery Project, to which the Australian Government is contributing $123 million.
“It is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program and South Australia’s Murray Futures program under a 90-10 per cent funding agreement,†he said.
The establishment of fishways was part of the vision of Murray River crusader and fourth-generation fisher Henry Jones, who was a passionate advocate for the health and sustainability of the Murray, particularly the Lower Lakes region.
“Henry sadly passed away last month, but it is wonderful to see part of his legacy live on through this project,†Mr Hunter said.
“Today’s announcement is great news for everyone who has worked hard to bring this project to fruition, but it is especially positive for the future of our native fish population in the Basin and the region.â€
Construction of the fishways will be managed by SA Water. The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has provided input into the design of the fishways based on their studies into the ecology of fish species.
SARDI will undertake monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the fishways once they have been built, in 2016.
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