Why fish passage is vital for fish migration Have you ever caught a fish and wondered what journey it’s been on, or the obstacles it’s had to encounter?
to 2,300 km during times of flow – that’s like swimming from Brisbane to Auckland!
Many of Queensland’s native fish species, including popular recreational and commercial species, migrate at some point in their life. This could be to breed, recolonise areas, and to access new food and habitats.
Migration patterns of fish can be restricted through the construction of dams, flood levees, weirs and road crossings. Even small changes in water level, as much as 10 cm drop, can obstruct small bodied native fish, leading to reduced native fish populations.
Some fish species move between fresh and salt water. This movement is called diadromous and is undertaken by fish species such as barramundi, Australian bass, jungle perch and sea mullet. Native fish species that complete their lifecycle in freshwater also have a requirement for movement within the river systems. This type of movement is termed potamodromous and is undertaken by fish species such as golden perch, silver perch and Murray cod. Golden perch have a recorded migration of up
Any delay or blockage to native fish movement significantly reduces their long-term viability. This is why Fisheries legislation in Queensland requires adequate fish passage at structures built within waterways.
Women spearheading recreational fishing Sharney Lennox started camping and fishing from a young age when her and her brothers each had their own coloured hand line. Now living on the Gold Coast, Sharney loves the versatility fishing provides. “I can head out west to chase Murray cod and camp for a few nights, floating down a river in my kayak without seeing another person all day. I could head north to catch reef fish or chase barramundi. I can go offshore with friends close to home to catch marlin or snapper. Or I can drive 10 minutes down the road to chase some bass and saratoga at Hinze dam. Not only are they different types of fishing, but each offer a very different experience to one another.” In addition to the amazing versatility, Sharney loves being able to fish alone, with her husband and kids or with friends. “To me, life doesn’t get better than being able to enjoy fishing with my loved ones. You can make fishing as personal or as social as you want,
and when you take in to account all the different locations and types of fishing there are, the options are truly endless. As a proud advocate for fishing, particularly for women and children, Sharney is now one of the leaders for the Women in Recreational Fishing Program. In the program she continues to learn about fishing and she shares her vast knowledge with other fishers. “One of the most fulfilling things is sharing my knowledge and having someone come back to me and tell me they caught a fish on the back of the tips I have given them. My hope for this program is for more women to find the confidence to step outside of their comfort zone and give fishing a go.” Interested in joining the community? Search Facebook for ‘Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld’ to find out more.
fisheries.qld.gov.au 13 25 23 FisheriesQueensland FisheriesQld DAFQld MAY 2023 31
