The presence of native fish is a good indicator of healthy waterways. There’s a strong interconnection between a site’s water quality and biological integrity with the variety of fish species. Fish found in Victorian waterways can include the larger Murray and Trout cod, the smaller Southern pygmy perch, and everything in between including eels.
Over time, humans have changed rivers in many ways. This includes by dredging, installing weirs and large dams, and removal of local vegetation. This can be to provide water for towns, industries, mitigate floods, and for food and fibre production. These changes have had significant impacts on native fish populations. Fish numbers across the Murray-Darling Basin are estimated to be less than 10% of those existing prior to colonisation. 29 freshwater species are now listed as threatened in Victoria.
To combat these changes to the natural waterways, teams across the state work to assist fish in their migratory, feeding and breeding travels.
One such project is called a fishway. These are man-made constructions that allow fish to move safely past dams and weirs. There are several types of fishways that allow fish safe passage. They can be river diversions—constructed out of rocks and boulders, or larger constructions. They are particularly important for protected species that may already face danger from climate change and over-fishing. Three important fishways recently built in Victoria are:
Fish hotels are another project that mitigate impacts on fish populations. They are in-water structures made from wood and trees that improve river health and provide safe breeding grounds.
Fishway projects improve habitat connectivity for fish and can also strengthen recreational fishing opportunities and engage people with the health of the waterways. They can be installed within many different types of waterways.
Melbourne Water completed the Darebin Creek fish ladder in December 2022. Fish can now freely and safely migrate from saltwater to freshwater environments along Darebin Creek. It features a rock ramp fishway.
Shenandoah Bruce is a Program Manager with the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA). Here he discusses how his work and study led him to managing the fishway infrastructure program, which aims to assist fish in their journeys throughout Victorian waterways and beyond.
Below you can find a variety of resources to further research and understand fish revival projects.
Improving the health of Victoria's waterways and catchments (DEECA)
Fishways and Fish Movement (Arthur Rylah Institute)
Fish friendly Stream Gauging Station Program (Arthur Rylah Institute)
Native Fish Report Card Program (Arthur Rylah Institute)
Victoria's Threatened List and Processes List (DEECA)
Video: Saving the critically endangered river blackfish (Arthur Rylah Institute)
Fish Hotels – Need a place to put your fins up (Corangamite CMA)
Fish on the move at Koondrook Fishway (North Central CMA)
Video: New fishway passages at McQuades Bend and Frost Crossing (North Central CMA)
Video: Tea Garden Fishway (North East CMA)
Video: Dr Zeb Tonkin from the Arthur Rylah Institute (West Gippsland CMA)
Video: Gippsland Bass, King of the River (West Gippsland CMA)
Checking in to the Fish Hotel (Health Waterways)
Improving fish passage in Dandenong Creek (Healthy Waterways)
Fishways of the River Murray (Murray-Darling Basin Authority)
Did you know fish climb ladders? (Murray-Darling Basin Authority)
Fish migration in the Murray-Darling Basin (Murray-Darling Basin Authority)
Fishways at the Victorian Fisheries Authority
7 types of fish ladders or fishways (The Constructor)
Finterest – Your home for stories about our Australian Freshwater Native Fish
Video: Pillars Road Fishway Construction Time Lapse (Healthy Waterways)
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Page last updated: 11/08/25