Threatened native fish species in Australia’s largest river were on Monday given ”ladders” to by-pass obstacles put in their way by man, the government announced on Monday.
The so-called ”fish ladders” are passages that will allow the fish to swim past weirs in the Murray river, Australia’s largest, in the hope of reversing a catastrophic decline in their numbers.
”By constructing the ladders between the various locks on the Murray, the fish will be able to travel along the full length of the river,” said Environment Minister Ian Campbell at a ceremony to mark the opening.
”The ladders are gently sloping passages that enable fish to migrate upstream past each weir. This will assist with the breeding processes and contribute to greater fish numbers and better genetic diversity.”
Experts estimate current populations of native fish species in the 2 500km river at about 10% compared to levels 200 years ago.
The remaining populations have become fragmented and their movement has been seriously restricted. Non-native fish species and disease have also contributed to the decline.
The ladders have cost 25-million Australian dollars (US$18-million) to build in the river, most of which forms the border between New South Wales and Victoria states before flowing into the Southern Ocean in the state of South Australia. – Sapa-AFP