ASFB Home > 2003 > Biological Invasions: Consequences for Parasites, Pathogens, Emerging Diseases, and Fisheries in the Marine Environment.

Fish passage and stranding of native fish in off-channel habitats of the Murray River

Matthew Jones and Ivor Stuart

Department of Sustainability and Environment, Arthur Rylah Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084.
Email: Matthew.jones@nre.vic.gov.au

Provision of fish passage to off-channel habitats is an important aspect of restoring the ecology of wetland systems and has been highlighted under the Native Fish Management Strategy and the Living Murray initiative. There are, however, many significant barriers to off-channel habitats and major anabranches along the Murray River mainstem. Safe passage of native fish to and from wetland systems along the Murray River, such as the Barmah-Millewa forest, is likely to play a significant role in maintaining healthy native fish populations. This study aims to investigate; the importance of flood runners for movement of native fish in the Barmah-Millewa forest; what movement and spawning cues native fish respond to; what impact floodplain regulator operations have on native fish; and identify what procedures and protocols will provide safe passage for native fish. Initial results have verified the presence of both large and small native fish (ie, Murray cod, trout cod, golden perch, silver perch, carp gudgeons, Australian smelt, and hardyhead) within anabranches and flood-runners of the Barmah-Millewa forest. However, many of these species have also been found stranded behind regulators after being shutdown. Future directions of the project and implications of current results on management of flood-control systems in the Murray-Darling Basin will be discussed.

Room 1 Thursday 9.40 am