Fish thrive in healthy habitat provided by weed-free wetlands in the Burdekin
NQ Dry Tropics celebrated World Fish Migration Day with a community event at Lower Burdekin Ski Club in Ayr, attended by locals and supported by a range of groups involved with managing and protecting wetlands and creeks.
Attendees had the chance to learn more about the fish species they love to catch, and how weed-free wetlands and riparian vegetation provided habitat and benefited fish populations.
Burdekin Shire Council staff gave a live demonstration of their Weedoo boat, designed to quickly and easily remove aquatic weeds, keeping waterways clear and healthy.
Burdekin Fish Restocking Association brought some barra fingerlings for community members to release, while a casting competition kept the kids entertained.
A variety of information stalls operated by SunWater, Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics, Gudjuda Aboriginal Corporation, Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Advisory Committee, Northern Trapping, Mangrove Watch, Greening Australia, OzFish, Lower Burdekin Water, Aglantis. and Burdekin Shire Council, gave visitors plenty of food for thought.
Queensland Marine Rescue laid on a sausage sizzle, and Kerry’s Coffee Van poured 100 free coffees.
NQ Dry Tropics Senior Project Officer, Georgia Robinson, thanked everybody who supported the day, including Burdekin Distillery, About Town Bait & Tackle and Bowen River Rodeo for lucky door prizes, and highlighted that improving fish habitat and migration was a community-wide effort.
“All of the organisations who took part are playing a vital role in protecting and maintaining waterways and the species that rely on them,” she said.
“Many of North Queensland’s native species, including local favourites like barramundi and mangrove jack, need to migrate between freshwater and the ocean to complete their breeding cycle.
“When juvenile fish are blocked from moving upstream by barriers such as dams, weirs and weed chokes, populations can quickly decline.
“Since 2008, NQ Dry Tropics has partnered with Lower Burdekin Water, Burdekin Shire Council and local landowners to remove aquatic weeds, plant trees, rehabilitate wetlands, and install fishways in key fish migration waterways.
“The fishways include areas for fish to rest as they swim against the flow, helping more juveniles make their way upstream into freshwater for nursery habitats and feeding.”
The event was delivered under the Working Wetlands in the Burdekin Delta project, part of the Reefwise Wetlands Grant Program funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.
