Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Identification of human-made physical barriers to fish passage in the Wet Tropics region, Australia

Frederieke J. Kroon A C and Seonaid Phillips B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, PO Box 780, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia.

B CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 780, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Present address: Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia. Email: f.kroon@aims.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 67(5) 677-681 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14397
Submitted: 4 December 2014  Accepted: 31 March 2015   Published: 27 August 2015

Abstract

Human-made physical barriers to fish passage were identified in the Wet Tropics region, Far North Queensland, Australia, through a desktop GIS analysis of the stream and transport networks. A total of 3748 of such potential barriers, comprising bridges, culverts and causeways, were identified in a stream network of 18 363 km at a scale of 1 : 100 000. These records provide a first step for a complete barrier inventory and assessment for this region, which can be used to prioritise potential barriers for removal and remediation to improve native fish movement and fisheries production.

Additional keywords: bridges, causeways, connectivity, culverts, flow regime, migration.


References

Allen, G. R., Midgley, S. H., and Allen, M. (2003).‘Freshwater Fishes of Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Bourne, C. M., Kehler, D. G., Wiersma, Y. F., and Cote, D. (2011). Barriers to fish passage and barriers to fish passage assessments: the impact of assessment methods and assumptions on barrier identification and quantification of watershed connectivity. Aquatic Ecology 45, 389–403.
Barriers to fish passage and barriers to fish passage assessments: the impact of assessment methods and assumptions on barrier identification and quantification of watershed connectivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boys, C. A., Kroon, F. J., Glasby, T. M., and Wilkinson, K. (2012). Improved fish and crustacean passage in tidal creeks following floodgate remediation. Journal of Applied Ecology 49, 223–233.
Improved fish and crustacean passage in tidal creeks following floodgate remediation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Branco, P., Segurado, P., Santos, J. M., and Ferreira, M. T. (2014). Prioritizing barrier removal to improve functional connectivity of rivers. Journal of Applied Ecology 51, 1197–1206.
Prioritizing barrier removal to improve functional connectivity of rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brevé, N. W. P., Buijse, A. D., Kroes, M. J., Wanningen, H., and Vriese, F. T. (2014). Supporting decision-making for improving longitudinal connectivity for diadromous and potamodromous fishes in complex catchments. The Science of the Total Environment 496, 206–218.
Supporting decision-making for improving longitudinal connectivity for diadromous and potamodromous fishes in complex catchments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Eberhardt, A. L., Burdick, D. M., and Dionne, M. (2011). The effects of road culverts on nekton in New England salt marshes: implications for tidal restoration. Restoration Ecology 19, 776–785.
The effects of road culverts on nekton in New England salt marshes: implications for tidal restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Furnas, M. (2003). ‘Catchments and Corals: Terrestrial Runoff to the Great Barrier Reef.’ (Australian Institute of Marine Science: Townsville, Qld, Australia.)

Gargan, P. G., Roche, W. K., Keane, S., King, J. J., Cullagh, A., Mills, P., and Keeffe, J. O. (2011). Comparison of field- and GIS-based assessments of barriers to Atlantic salmon migration: a case study in the Nore Catchment, Republic of Ireland. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 27, 66–72.
Comparison of field- and GIS-based assessments of barriers to Atlantic salmon migration: a case study in the Nore Catchment, Republic of Ireland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gordos, M., Nichols, S., Lay, C., Townsend, A., Grove, C., Walsh, S., and Copeland, C. (2007). Audit and remediation of fish passage barriers in coastal NSW. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australian Stream Management Conference. Australian Rivers: Making a Difference’, 21–25 May 2007, Albury, NSW, Australia. (Eds. A. L. Wilson, R. L. Dehaan, R. J. Watts, K. J. Page, K. H. Bowmer and A. Curtis.) (Charles Sturt University: Albury, NSW, Australia.)

Halls, A. S., Hoggarth, D. D., and Debnath, K. (1998). Impact of flood control schemes on river fish migrations and species assemblages in Bangladesh. Journal of Fish Biology 53, 358–380.
Impact of flood control schemes on river fish migrations and species assemblages in Bangladesh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Halls, A. S., Hoggarth, D. D., and Debnath, K. (1999). Impacts of hydraulic engineering on the dynamics and production potential of floodplain fish populations in Bangladesh. Fisheries Management and Ecology 6, 261–285.
Impacts of hydraulic engineering on the dynamics and production potential of floodplain fish populations in Bangladesh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Januchowski-Hartley, S. R., McIntyre, P. B., Diebel, M., Doran, P. J., Infante, D. M., Joseph, C., and Allan, J. D. (2013). Restoring aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires expanding inventories of both dams and road crossings. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 11, 211–217.
Restoring aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires expanding inventories of both dams and road crossings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Januchowski-Hartley, S. R., Diebel, M., Doran, P. J., and McIntyre, P. B. (2014). Predicting road culvert passability for migratory fishes. Diversity & Distributions 20, 1414–1424.
Predicting road culvert passability for migratory fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Katano, O., Nakamura, T., Abe, S., Yamamoto, S., and Baba, Y. (2006). Comparison of fish communities between above- and below-dam sections of small streams; barrier effect to diadromous fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 68, 767–782.
Comparison of fish communities between above- and below-dam sections of small streams; barrier effect to diadromous fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kemp, P. S., and O’Hanley, J. R. (2010). Procedures for evaluating and prioritising the removal of fish passage barriers: a synthesis. Fisheries Management and Ecology 17, 297–322.

Kroon, F. J. (2005). Behavioural avoidance of acidified water by juveniles of four commercial fish and prawn species with migratory life stages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 285, 193–204.
Behavioural avoidance of acidified water by juveniles of four commercial fish and prawn species with migratory life stages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kroon, F. J., and Ansell, D. H. (2006). A comparison of species assemblages between drainage systems with and without floodgates: implications for coastal floodplain management. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63, 2400–2417.
A comparison of species assemblages between drainage systems with and without floodgates: implications for coastal floodplain management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kroon, F. J., Philips, S., Burrows, D. W., and Hogan, A. (2015). Presence and absence of non-native fish species in the Wet Tropics region, Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 86, 1177–1185.
Presence and absence of non-native fish species in the Wet Tropics region, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2MritlOlsg%3D%3D&md5=fade1f70cafe3ebe2dbbf98794a29a12CAS |

Lassalle, G., Crouzet, P., and Rochard, E. (2009). Modelling the current distribution of European diadromous fishes: an approach integrating regional anthropogenic pressures. Freshwater Biology 54, 587–606.
Modelling the current distribution of European diadromous fishes: an approach integrating regional anthropogenic pressures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lawrence, W. F., and Goosem, M. (2008). Impacts of habitat fragmentation and linear clearings on Australian rainforest biota. In ‘Living in a Dynamic Tropical Rainforest Landscape’, Vol. 1. (Eds. N. E. Stork and S. M. Turton.) pp. 295–306. (Blackwell Publishing Ltd: Melbourne.)

Lawrence, M., Sully, D., Beumer, J., and Couchman, D. (2009). ‘Targeted Collection of Inventory Data for Wetlands Fish Barriers in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment.’ (Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)

Lawson, T., Kroon, F., Russell, J., Thuesen, P., and Fakes, A. (2010). Audit and prioritisation of physical barriers to fish passage in the Wet Tropics region. Milestone report, MTSRF project 2.6.2. (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences: Atherton, Qld, Australia.)

Lovett, R. A. (2014). Rivers on the run. Nature 511, 521–523.
Rivers on the run.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXht1Chu7%2FN&md5=c678a5650b116ba217c3936bff363a63CAS | 25079537PubMed |

Meixler, M. S., Bain, M. B., and Walter, M. T. (2009). Predicting barrier passage and habitat suitability for migratory fish species. Ecological Modelling 220, 2782–2791.
Predicting barrier passage and habitat suitability for migratory fish species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mouton, A. M., Huysecom, S., Buysse, D., Stevens, M., Van den Neucker, T., and Coeck, J. (2014). Optimisation of adjusted barrier management to improve glass eel migration at an estuarine barrier. Journal of Coastal Conservation 18, 111–120.

O’Hanley, J. R., Wright, J., Diebel, M., Fedora, M. A., and Soucy, C. L. (2013). Restoring stream habitat connectivity: a proposed method for prioritizing the removal of resident fish passage barriers. Journal of Environmental Management 125, 19–27.
Restoring stream habitat connectivity: a proposed method for prioritizing the removal of resident fish passage barriers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23632001PubMed |

Poplar-Jeffers, I. O., Petty, J. T., Anderson, J. T., Kite, S. J., Strager, M. P., and Fortney, R. H. (2009). Culvert replacement and stream habitat restoration: implications from brook trout management in an Appalachian watershed, USA. Restoration Ecology 17, 404–413.
Culvert replacement and stream habitat restoration: implications from brook trout management in an Appalachian watershed, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pusey, B., Kennard, M., and Arthington, A. (2004). ‘Freshwater Fishes of North-Eastern Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Sheer, M. B., and Steel, E. A. (2006). Lost watersheds: barriers, aquatic habitat connectivity, and salmon persistence in the Willamette and Lower Columbia River basins. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 135, 1654–1669.
Lost watersheds: barriers, aquatic habitat connectivity, and salmon persistence in the Willamette and Lower Columbia River basins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stork, N. E., and Turton, S. M. (2008). ‘Living in a Dynamic Tropical Forest Landscape.’ (Wiley-Blackwell: Malden, MA, USA.)

Sultana, P., and Thompson, P. M. (1997). Effects of flood control and drainage on fisheries in Bangladesh and the design of mitigating measures. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 13, 43–55.
Effects of flood control and drainage on fisheries in Bangladesh and the design of mitigating measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vowles, A. S., Anderson, J. J., Gessel, M. H., Williams, J. G., and Kemp, P. S. (2014). Effects of avoidance behaviour on downstream fish passage through areas of accelerating flow when light and dark. Animal Behaviour 92, 101–109.
Effects of avoidance behaviour on downstream fish passage through areas of accelerating flow when light and dark.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wet Tropics Management Authority (2013). ‘Annual Report and State of the Wet Tropics report 2012–2013.’ (Wet Tropics Management Authority: Cairns, Qld, Australia.)

Williams, R. J., and Watford, F. A. (1997). Identification of structures restricting tidal flow in New South Wales, Australia. Wetlands Ecology and Management 5, 87–97.
Identification of structures restricting tidal flow in New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |