CONTEXT FOR SCREENING
Millions of native fish waterways are lost annually from Australian waterways, along with sticks, branches, gum nuts, algae, grass, shrimp, and other debris, causing water infrastructure issues such as clogged filters, damaged pumps, uneven watering, and reduced crop yield. While many water users install trash racks to address these problems, these racks only block large debris and fail to protect fish adequately.
Scientists and manufacturers have spearheaded the development of modern fish-protection screens for Australian water pumps and channels. These screens, with a fine mesh and large surface area, safeguard 90% of fish and effectively block nearly all debris. They reduce water velocity without compromising extraction volume, setting a new standard that offers real benefits for biodiversity and businesses.
Water users need high-quality information on modern screens. They need to know if a modern screen might suit their operation, what the value proposition is, and connections to manufacturers and screen suppliers. Currently, most water users are unaware modern screens exist, or lack a comprehensive understanding of the features and benefits. Authentic communication and engagement help support water users access the technology and deliver win-win outcomes for water users and the environment.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Infographics
Click on the infographic to download the full PDF. The links below are 16:9 image files for use in PowerPoint presentations etc.
Illustrations
Key messages
Images
- Images are available for use to support implementation of screens. Request images by emailing fishscreens@dpi.nsw.gov.au
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
Researchers have been answering important questions to advance modern fish-protection screening in Australia, across a range of topics – from fish losses and screen design, to stakeholder engagement.
- King and O’Connor (2007). Native fish entrapment in irrigation systems: a step towards understanding the significance of the problem. Ecological Management & Restoration 8(1): 32-37.
- Baumgartner, L. J., Reynoldson, N. K., Cameron, L. and Stanger, J. G. (2009). Effects of irrigation pumps on riverine fish. Fisheries Management and Ecology 16(6): 429-437.
- Baumgartner, L. J. and Boys, C. A. (2012). Reducing the perversion of diversion: applying world-standard fish screening practices to the Murray-Darling Basin. Ecological Management & Restoration 13(2): 135-143.
- Boys, C. A., Baumgartner, L. J. and Lowry, M. (2013). Entrainment and impingement of juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus, and golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, at a fish screen: effect of velocity and light. Fisheries Management and Ecology 20(4): 362-373.
- Boys, C. A., Robinson, W., Baumgartner, L. J., Rampano, B. and Lowry, M. (2013b). Influence of approach velocity and mesh size on the entrainment and contact of a lowland river fish assemblage at a screened irrigation pump. PLOS One 8(6): e67026.
- Baumgartner, L. J., Gell, P., Thiem, J. D., Finlayson, C., & Ning, N. (2019). Ten complementary measures to assist with environmental watering programs in the Murray–Darling river system, Australia. River Research and Applications, 36(4), 645–655.
- Stocks, J. R., Walsh, C. T., Rodgers, M. P. and Boys, C. A. (2019). Approach velocity and impingement duration influences the mortality of juvenile golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) at a fish exclusion screen. Ecological Management & Restoration 20: 136-141.
- Boys, C. A., Rayner, T. S., Baumgartner, L. J. and Doyle, K. E. (2021a). Native fish losses due to water extraction in Australian rivers: evidence, impacts and a solution in modern fish- and farm-friendly screens. Ecological Management & Restoration 22(2): 134-144.
- Conallin, J., Ning, N., Bond, J., Pawsey, N., Baumgartner, L. J., Atminarso, D., McPherson, H., Robinson, W. and Thorncraft, G. (2022). A review of the applicability of the motivations and abilities (MOTA) framework for assessing the implementation success of water resources management plans and policies. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 26(5): 1357-1370.
- Nayeem, T., Pawsey, N., Baumgartner, L. J., Sexton, A. and Boys, C. A. (2023). Water users’ attitudes towards fish-protection screens: a case study from Australia’s Murray-Darling (Baaka) Basin. Ausralasian Journal of Environmental Management 30(1): 107-126.
- Nayeem, T., Pawsey, N., Murshed, F., Baumgartner, L., Boys, C. A. and Rayner, T. S. (2023b). Modern sustainable fish screens: a study on developing effective communication with water users. Sustainability 15(9): 7964.
- Bretzel, J. B., Boys, C. A., Watts, R. J., Doyle, K. E. and Baumgartner, L. J. (2023). Alleviating the loss: a conical fish screen installation reduces native fish entrainment at a gravity-fed water diversion. Aquatic Conservation 33(12): 1477-1491.
- Rayner, T. S., Conallin, J., Boys, C. A. and Price, R. (2023). Protecting fish and farms: Incentivising adoption of modern fish-protection screens for water pumps and gravity-fed diversions in Australia. PLOS Water 2(8): e0000107.
- Stocks, J. R., Walsh, C. T., Rayner, T. S. and Boys, C. A. (2024). Murray cod and modern fish screens: influence of water velocity and screen design on the entrainment and impingement of larval and young-of-year fish at water offtakes. Marine and Freshwater Research 75, MF23239.
- Rolfe, J., Rajapaksa, D., Star, M. and Flint, N. (2024). Using Best Worst Scaling to prioritise issues in major river catchments: The Murray Darling Basin in Australia. Water Resources and Economics 45: 100237.
- Bretzel, J. B., Doyle, K. E., Vi Vu, A., Watts, R. J., Galbusera, C., Boys, C. A. and Baumgartner, L. J. (2024). A touch too much – interactions of various species of freshwater fish and crustacea at a simulated fish protection screen. Ecological Engineering 204 (107281).
- Rayner et al. (In review). Realising the benefits of modern fish-protection screening in Australia. Marine & Freshwater Research.
- Rolfe, J., De Valck, J., Star, M., Flint, N., Rajapaksa, D., Rahman, A., Gordos, M. and Blackwell, B. (In sub. a). Valuing fish health improvements from river restoration projects in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia. Unpublished manuscript under submission, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS & THESES
- Gilligan, D. and Schiller, C. (2003). Downstream transport of larval and juvenile fish in the Murray River. NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 50. NSW Government, Cronulla. 68 pp.
- (2005). Fish in Irrigation Supply Offtakes: A Literature Review. 22 pp. Fisheries Research Report Series. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cronulla.
- , , and (2007). The Effects of Selected Irrigation Practices on Fish of the Murray-Darling Basin. Fisheries Final Report Series. NSW Department of Primary Industries. Cronulla, 90 pp.
- , , , and (2008). Fish in the Murray Valley and Torrumbarry Irrigation Areas. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report No. 176. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.
- Smith B, Thwaites L, Hillyard K, Conallin A (2011). Evaluation of carp exclusion screens at wetland inlets:a project synthesis. Prepared by the South Australian Research
and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences) for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. - , , et al. (2012). Development of Fish Screening Criteria for Water Diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin. Fisheries Final Report Series No. 134. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cronulla.
- , , , and (2015). Movement of Fish Eggs and Larvae Through the Hattah Lakes Environmental Pumps. Final Report prepared for the Mallee Catchment Management Authority. MDFRC Publication No. 50/2015. The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and La Trobe University, 36 pp.
- Hutchinson et al. (2020). Susceptibility of Australian fish to entrainment through irrigation systems with a review of research and potential mitigation strategies. Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
- King, A. J., Thurgate, N. and Davey, C. (2020). Assessment of the benefits of fish exclusion screens in Victoria. Report prepared for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning by the Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University. CFE Publication 257.
- Hutchinson, M., Nixon, D., Shiau, J. and Norris, A. (2022). Impacts and solutions: A scoping study on relative impacts of irrigation infrastructure on fish in the Fitzroy Basin. Final Report to the Cotton Cooperative Research Centre. Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane.
- Doyle, K., Stuart, I., Ning, N., An, V., Zarski, D., Thomas, K. and McGregor, C., Bretzel, J., Mallen-Cooper, M., Fanson, B., Thew, P., Senevirathna, L. and Baumgartner, L. (2023). Redfin larvae screen entrainment study. Research Commissioned by Snowy Hydro Limited. Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University. 66 pp.
- Jaensch, L. (2023). Liquid Assets – Implementing modern fish-protection screens to maximise benefits for rivers & communities. Masters of Global Food and Agricultural Business thesis, The University of Adelaide and NSW DPI Fisheries, Adelaide, South Australia and Armidale, NSW.
Copyright 2024 Fish Screens Australia. All Rights Reserved.