Fisheries experts have worked with teams from Murrumbidgee Irrigation to successfully relocate hundreds of fish from a canal in Griffith to a new habitat.
NSW Department of Primary Industries Acting Deputy Director General, Patrick Tully said it was a successful operation.
“Our teams relocated around 200 native fish including Bony Herring, Murray-Darling Rainbowfish and Australian Smelt,” Mr Tully said.
“All species are relatively common across the Murray-Darling Basin and play an important role within the ecology of our rivers.
“The teams also found some turtles and yabbies.
“The relocation was carried out in accordance with specific protocols developed for this type of work and the fish were removed from the water using a backpack electrofisher and nets.”
Murrumbidgee Irrigation CEO, Brett Jones, said a section of the Main Canal was drained down last week in preparation for an upgrade of the city’s Leagues Club Regulator, as part of the Lake View Branch Canal expansion project.
“We saw this as great opportunity to work with the DPI Fisheries experts to ensure the fish were relocated and there was no impact on native species,” Mr Jones said.
“The expansion project will be delivered in two stages across 2019-2020, and involves the upgrade of regulators, bridges and escapes.”
