Overview
Unsustainable hydroelectricity and irrigation development has decimated global freshwater fisheries, impacted the livelihood of riverine communities and facilitated the decline of fish-based economies. Fish moving downstream through dams, weirs, regulators or hydro turbines are subject to sudden changes in hydraulic conditions which have been shown to be a major cause of severe declines in migrating fish populations.
The Small Research Activity (SRA) provided the first information regarding the potential impact of water infrastructure on downstream migrating fish within the Lower Mekong Basin, and investigated what hydraulic mechanisms may be responsible for these impacts within the Lower Mekong Basin and Murray Darling Basin.
Whilst providing important guidance on the design of fish friendly infrastructure is the primary objective, the SRA could provide guidance and direction for a larger program which could focus on the main capture fisheries species in both Laos PDR and Australia, and result in timely policy advice on proposed future developments, particularly in hydro power generation.
