A multi-antennae passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag array improves fishway passage assessments in a vertical slot fishway — ASN Events

A multi-antennae passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag array improves fishway passage assessments in a vertical slot fishway (#202)

Kris S Pitman 1 , David T Roberts 2 , Karl Pomorin 3 , Andrew Berghuis 4
  1. Pitman Research and Consulting, Landsborough, QLD, Australia
  2. Seqwater, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Karltek , Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  4. Aquatic Biopassage Services, Bundaberg, QLD, Australia

A passive integrated transponder (PIT) antenna array was used to assess fish passage through the Bromelton Weir vertical slot fishway, located on the Logan River, south east Queensland. The fishway constructed in 1996 is 72m long, has a 3.2m elevation, a maximum slot velocity of 1.4m/second and has a 180° turn 1/3 along its length. The PIT array installed in 2011 (Karltek Model KLK5000) comprises three antennas, located in the 3rd, 19th and 32nd cells of the fishway. Fish >100mm were tagged at various locations along the Logan River system with 23mm, 9mm and 8mm PIT tags. Fish movement was highly seasonal with 82% of fish detections being recorded in summer, 12% in spring, 5% in autumn and only 0.5% in winter. Six of the eight tagged species successfully ascended the fishway and overall passage success was high (range 60% - 100%). Average passage duration was variable between species, the slowest being eel-tail catfish (9.2 hr) the fastest, sea mullet (0.35 hr).  Total passage times also varied between all species for example, freshwater mullet ranging between 0.05 hr and 1.45 hrs; long finned eel between 0.16 hr and 9.13 hrs. The use of three antennas provides information about ascent characteristics, unsuccessful attempts and other behavioral information that trapping alone, or fewer antennae could provide. Despite some individual fish having slow ascent times, overall this study confirms the vertical slot fishway design at Bromelton Weir is effective for the majority of larger bodied fish species in the Logan River.

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