{"id":7424,"date":"2022-06-23T23:34:50","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T23:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/?p=7424"},"modified":"2022-06-24T03:15:06","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T03:15:06","slug":"improving-fish-habitat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/improving-fish-habitat\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Fish Habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/daintreeweb.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]IMPROVING FISH HABITAT[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]HUNDREDS OF BARRIERS IMPEDING FISH MOVEMENT[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1656026823645{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]24 JUNE 2022[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1656027375004{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Can a small fish make its way up the rivers and tributaries in the Lower Barron, Mossman and Daintree catchments? That\u2019s the basis for a project that\u2019s assessing if infrastructure like weirs, dams and culverts are stopping fish moving upstream to nursery and breeding grounds.<\/p>\n

These river catchments are hotspots for diadromous fish species like barramundi and jungle perch \u2013 adults spawn in estuaries and juvenile fish migrate upstream to freshwater habitat where they mature into adults.<\/p>\n

More than 1600 potential barriers<\/strong> have been identified as part of a new project aiming to improve recreational fishing outcomes by improving waterway habitat connection.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM\u2019s Lana Hepburn explains that a number of factors determine which barriers would be most beneficial to remediate to get good recreational fishing and ecological outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to open as much habitat upstream as we can, so we look at where the barrier is in the catchment. If it\u2019s closer to the coast it\u2019s potentially blocking more upstream habitat \u2013 so the distance between each barrier is important too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also look at how connected a waterway is to the ocean. Barriers in rivers that connect to the ocean would be prioritised over small tributaries that flow into different creeks and rivers before hitting the ocean,\u201d Lana said.<\/p>\n

Some barriers are only obvious in low flow conditions during winter, but fish need to be able to migrate at different times of the year.<\/p>\n

A field team from Terrain NRM, Wet Tropics Waterways and Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation\u2019s Yirrganydji Land & Sea Rangers have now physically inspected hundreds of barriers to assess their priority for remediation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1656027386372{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"Terrain<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s only so much you can learn from geospatial mapping and aerial photography, which is how we identify the potential barriers, and then we need to get out and \u2018groundtruth\u2019 them,\u201d said Lana.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we\u2019re talking about barriers, a lot can stand in the way of fish! When they migrate upstream they are just small fingerlings and no bigger than a few centimetres, so you can see how their movement could be impeded.<\/p>\n

\u201cCauseways, crossings and culverts can all create drops that act like mini waterfalls which they can\u2019t get past. Narrow pipes can also cause water to flow so fast they can\u2019t swim upstream through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The findings will be shared with groups around the region who also have an interest in improving fish habitat connectivity.<\/p>\n

The \u201cConnecting Wet Tropics Waterways for Sustainable Recreational Fishing<\/strong><\/a>\u201d project is funded by Terrain NRM through the Australian Government\u2019s Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/biodiversity\/coastal-ecosystems\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1598408950187{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t
\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Liquid\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t

\r\n\t\t\tLiquid compost sprayer trials<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
Soil<\/a> Template 1<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\" admin@terrain<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \"\" October 20, 2025 <\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t
Working with farmers to trial a new type of sprayer for this region...<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>
\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Climate\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t

\r\n\t\t\tClimate Smart Funding for Wet Tropics farmers<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
Soil<\/a> Template 1<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\" admin@terrain<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \"\" August 3, 2025 <\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t
New trials, demonstration sites, workshops...<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>
\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Soil\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t

\r\n\t\t\tSoil Health workshops<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
Template 1<\/a> Soil<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\" admin@terrain<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \"\" July 3, 2025 <\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t
Great to see farmers from across the industries...<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t1<\/span>\n2<\/a>\n3<\/a>\n…<\/span>\n19<\/a>\nNext \u00bb<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\n[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”innerpage_footer_1″ el_class=”innerpage_footer_2″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”innerpage_mailchimp” css=”.vc_custom_1563877416570{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\t\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t