Oral Presentation Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2024

Advancing Trans-Tasman Collaboration on Fish-Protection Screens: Strategies, Innovations, and Future Directions. (112476)

Craig Boys 1 , Tom Rayner 1 , Rodney Price 2 , Mike Hickford 3
  1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, Australia
  2. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Dubbo, NSW, Australia
  3. NIWA, Christchurch, New Zealand

Welcome to the 2nd Trans-Tasman Workshop on Modern Fish-Protection Screening. This event builds on the success of our inaugural workshop in Christchurch, New Zealand, last November. There we convened managers, scientists, practitioners, and community members to explore the role of modern screens in mitigating impacts on fish at water diversions for agriculture, industry, and domestic supply.

The previous workshop identified the importance of motivating community involvement, developing cost-effective screen designs, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, leveraging social licence, and balancing incentivisation with regulation. Our discussions revealed common challenges and innovative solutions, establishing a foundation for future cooperation.

Our objective remains focused: supporting widespread adoption of fish-protection screens across Australia and New Zealand to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. This workshop continues the trans-Tasman dialogue. The special session will cover development of pragmatic design guidelines, the latest state-of-the-art technologies, and the opportunities and challenges for implementation.

Together, we will continue to advance fish protection and strengthen our international collaboration for the benefit of native fish, fishing, farms and communities.