Protecting Fish Passage

Fish Passage Just about any structure placed across a stream can have dramatic impacts on the movement of fish within that stream. Conversely, restoring fish passage, either by removing barriers or by installing fishways, is possibly the most immediate, demonstrable improvement that can be made to the conservation status of a catchment. For example, installing a fishway on a 1 metre high barrier on the Lower Barwon River in October/November 1995 enabled 10,000 fish to move upstream overnight. The State Fishway Program has identified over 100 high priority sites across the state and is currently undertaking a program to provide for fish passage at these sites. Fish passage is protected by several Victorian legislative Acts. These are described further under Farm Dam Construction page. The Fish Barrier Database has mapped the locations of 2,500 major, minor and natural barriers to fish movement on named streams (as shown on 1;25,000 Maps) across Victoria. Many more barriers are likely to exist on minor waterways. Contact: Paul Bennett, Convenor, Department of Sustainability and Enivronment. 03 9412 4050 Email: Paul Bennett