Thanks to the NSW Government‘s $20 million Fish-Friendly Water Extraction initiative, irrigators will save water, time, and money while safeguarding native fish populations now and in the future.
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said that as part of the scheme, state-of-the-art fish protection screens would be installed on 49 water pumps around the state, benefiting not just the health of river systems and the longevity of fish populations but also enhancing the health of river systems and the longevity of farmer production.
“These modern fish screens are fitted with fine mesh and self-cleaning technology that effectively filters unwanted debris and fish out of pumps and pipes, delivering cleaner water onto properties and reducing the need for farmers to spend time unblocking sprinklers,” Minister Saunders stated.
According to Minister Saunders, research has demonstrated that these new fish screens also preserve up to 90 per cent of native fish swimming through, which is crucial as we continue to refill streams after millions were lost during the drought.
“This project is a great example of how the NSW Government is supporting the agriculture industry to adopt modern, on-farm technology, translating innovative research into practical measures,” Minister Saunders added.
Minister for Water Kevin Anderson said not only would the fish screens safeguard millions of native species and the environment, but they would also provide cleaner water to crops.
“The state-of-the-art irrigation screens will deliver 2900 megalitres per day of cleaner water by eliminating debris from the irrigation systems,” Minister Anderson stated.
Minister Anderson added that farmers and landowners that have installed fish screens have already reported various benefits, including reduced backflushing, lower in-line filtration expenses, and energy savings of up to $3000 per month.
“This project will also boost employment in the region, with local businesses to be engaged to assist with the screen installations. It’s about looking after the environment, farmers and businesses at the same time,” Minister Anderson said.
The fish screen installation procedure will be managed by the NSW DPI Fisheries in collaboration with Water Infrastructure NSW, with construction set to commence next year.
The fish screening program is one of several complementary actions being implemented to boost native fish species in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, including measures to facilitate fish passage up and down the river.
