Coordinated action

Australia has a coordinated approach to screening, built on genuine collaboration and partnerships. As a national level, the Australian Fish Screening Advisory Panel (AFSAP) allows knowledge sharing and helps coordinate activities. This is especially important in the Murray-Darling Baaka Basin, which extends across State and Territory borders. In NSW, the Interagency Working Group creates a framework for government to deliver screening projects effectively.

AFSAP AIMS

  • Review and discuss the latest research concerning biological and engineering performance of screens.
  • Ensure best practice design criteria and guidelines are supported  across jurisdictions and adopted by fisheries managers and screen manufacturers.
  • Maintain a current inventory database of fish screening projects across all jurisdictions.
  • Obtain jurisdictional reports on screening projects in each state and discuss the technical merits of different projects (including international projects) .
  • Stay abreast of best practice screen technologies and any improvements in manufacturing and construction techniques.
  • Discuss R&D needs and funding opportunities.

AFSAP PROCEDURES

  • The AFSAP meets biannually either in person, by telephone or a combination. 
  • At the discretion of AFSAP chair and members, outside representatives/experts may be invited to attend the biannual meeting to either present, provide advice or observe (e.g. communications expert, economist, water users, engineers). 
  • The chair will call for agenda items three weeks out from a scheduled meeting and will distribute a written agenda no later than one week prior to each meeting. 
  • The chair will prepare and distribute meeting minutes within a fortnight after the meeting. 
  • Key outcomes and recommendations from the meeting will be summarised and made public via the blog in due course.

Advisory Panel Members

CRAIG BOYS

NSW DPI FISHERIES
ASFAP Chair

ROD PRICE

NSW DPI FISHERIES
New South Wales Representative

TOM RAYNER

NSW DPI FISHERIES
New South Wales Representative

MARITA PEARSON

NSW DPI FISHERIES
ASFAP Executive Assistant

MICHAEL HUTCHINSON

QDAF
Queensland Representative

CHRIS BICE

SARDI
South Australia Representative

CASSY PETHO

SARDI
South Australia Representative

JUSTIN O’CONNOR

VIC DELWP
Victoria Representative

 

ANNE MICHIE

OzFish Unlimited
Recreational Fisher Representative

BRAEDEN LAMPARD

OzFish Unlimited
Recreational Fisher Representative

PETER EBENWALDER

AWMA
Manufacturing Industry Representative

DENYS VISSER

AQSEPTENCE
Manufacturing Industry Representative

BERNIE GEORGE

AUSCOTT
Water User (Northern Murray-Darling Basin)

ZARA LOWIEN

CEO
National Irrigators Council

ADRIAN MEREDITH

International Expert NZ
Appointed 2019

Past Members

  • Andrew Norris, QDAF
  • Les Perkins, USA Farmers Irrigation District
  • Isaac Jeffery, CEO National Irrigators Council
  • Sam Davis, NSW DPI Fisheries
  • Matt Hansen, OzFish Unlimited
  • Steve Whan, National Irrigators Council

Updated December 2024.