Progress flowing with early take-up of modern fish-protection screens

Modern fish-protection screens are bringing big benefits to Australian waterways and water users.  

Since their introduction to Australia in 2018, modern screens are now in use at more than 30 sites – from irrigated farming to fish hatcheries.  

These screens can protect up to 90% of native fish lost to water diversions, reduce infrastructure damage, save water and energy, and boost regional economies. 

Currently, over 2000 megalitres of water per day pass through modern screens, safeguarding around 580,000 native fish in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland.  

These numbers are likely to increase to 7000 ML/day and 2,000,000 native fish per year in the coming years, with similar benefits possible for other regions. 

The early success of modern screening has been driven by government programs that help water users access the right type of screen for their system.  

Innovative early adopters have shown a willingness to support these initiatives and are already reaping the benefits.  

Most are motivated to support native fish populations and reduce their operating costs. 

Demonstrating the positive experiences of these early adopters is helping other water users recognise the benefits of screening.  

These ‘screening champions’ are setting the new standard for fish-friendly water extraction, and reducing their environmental impact while maintaining profitability. 

Read more: Protecting fish and farms: Incentivising adoption of modern fish-protection screens for water pumps and gravity-fed diversions in Australia, Thomas S. Rayner, John Conallin, Craig A. Boys, Rodney Price