The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) in conjunction with Southern Gulf Catchments and Burke Shire Council have completed three Fish Passage projects on the lower reaches of the Nicholson and Gregory Rivers.

The completion of these fishways means the natural migration of fish in the lower reaches of the rivers is enhanced. Tim Marsden (Senior Fisheries Biologist - Northern Fish Community and Fishway Monitoring Team) of DPI&F explained.

While the freshwater rivers and streams of the Gulf region remain in a relatively undeveloped state, they are still under pressure from human activity that can affect the fish communities of the region. For example, roadways which can create barriers to migration have been built in the region which affects species that spend some portion of their lifecycle in freshwater.

Previous studies have shown that of the 50 species of native fish species requiring fish passages to maintain healthy population leve found in these rivers 24 are migratory.

Southern Gulf Catchments Kate Masters said, "This project is a great example of investment in the region that will have a significant impact on improvement to the natural environment whilst not impacting on the use of existing infrastructure."