MEDIA RELEASE
15 July 2010
Ref: 22/10
E-TAGS TO MONITOR THREATENED FISH
Computer tracking devices will monitor the survival rate of threatened fish.
Endangered fish will be fitted with devices that work like e-TAGs to monitor their migration
habits in Corangamite Catchment Management Authority’s coastal waterways.
Experts will implant mini monitoring devices into fish to test the effectiveness of man-made
passages built into waterways to protect native fish populations.
The passages, called fishways, enable fish to overcome obstructions such as weirs and are part
of a Corangamite CMA program to overcome barriers to fish movement in south-west Victorian
waterways.
Corangamite CMA has identified more than 300 potential barriers to fish passage in the
Corangamite coastal region. This area is home to 16 freshwater fish species that require access
to estuarine or marine waters to complete their life cycle.
Corangamite CMA senior river health officer Denis Lovric said assessing the success of the
completed fishways work would provide important information about the region’s threatened fish.
“It is important to monitor the effectiveness of fish passage to ensure that what has been built
provides adequate passage for native fish,” he said.
“Some of our native fish are endangered, therefore we need to ensure that they can access the
best available habitat so they can complete their life cycles.
“The next stage of the project will be very exciting. One way we plan to monitor fish passage is
by capturing wild fish and implanting them with a little pit tag, which is like an e-TAG for cars.
“A pit tag reader installed at a fishway will be able to track movements of the fish both upstream
and downstream as the fish migrate between the river and the sea.
“This will give us a clearer understanding of fish behaviour and life cycles, enabling us to better
manage the overall river system.”
The Corangamite CMA has addressed 10 barriers to fish passage throughout the region during
the past 12 months with river health funding provided through the State Government. This has
resulted in 350 kilometres of waterways opened up for fish migration in the Gellibrand, Barham,
Curdies and Barwon rivers.
- END For further information contact:
Johanna Wade, Communications Manager, 5232 9116 or 0427 005 187
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority ABN: 60 355 974 029
PO Box 159, 64 Dennis Street, Colac, Victoria, 3250
t: 03 5232 9100 f: 03 5232 2759
e: info@ccma.vic.gov.au w.www.ccma.vic.gov.au
MEDIA RELEASE
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For further information contact:
Johanna Wade, Communications Manager, 5232 9116 or 0427 005 187
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority ABN: 60 355 974 029
PO Box 159, 64 Dennis Street, Colac, Victoria, 3250
t: 03 5232 9100 f: 03 5232 2759
e: info@ccma.vic.gov.au w.www.ccma.vic.gov.au