The University Creek of Townsville possesses the highest populations of native fish compared to what it was for the past 30 years. And the secret behind it are the ‘fish passage devices’ that are installed at the crossings of the road on the creek.
Alan Webb, Fish ecologist with the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater says that at least six of the eight native fish species that are observed this year have amazingly spawned in the reaches of the upper creek.
The new and ground breaking technology in the field of environmental and ecological studies is developed by Ross Kapitzke within the JCU Engineering. And, a group of about 50 delegates visits the University for examining the fish passage technology. The delegates are from the Natural Resource Management, according to Mr Webb.
If not throughout Australia, this groundbreaking technology can be applied to other culverts within Queensland. It is where similar barriers are making the fish movements difficult.