Cone fishway

Cone fishway – Key considerations

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• Overview
• Key considerations
• Planning and design
• Construction and operation
• Links and references

In addition to the general information for all fishway types, the following applies to cone fishways.

Suitability and limitations

Cone fishways have been recorded passing fish as small as 9 mm in length and are particularly useful where biopassage of small fish is a major ecological priority.[4] These fishways tend to have relatively low discharge and turbulence[3] and can often be built on a slightly steeper gradient than vertical slot fishways[2].

Cone fishways can replace rock ramp fishways, and can be particularly useful in existing culverts, pre-cast channels, areas where suitable rock is unavailable, and in remote areas[3].

Cones have been constructed from a range of materials, some original fishways trialled polyethylene plastic cones[1], more recent fishways have all utilised concrete[4].Cone fishways are relatively inexpensive with short on-ground construction times,[3] as much of the structure is prefabricated[3].

There are several cone fishways in central to northern coastal Queensland, including in the Northern Gulf, Southern Gulf, Fitzroy, and Mackay-Whitsunday region.

References

1. ^ Berghuis, AP (2010), Reilly’s Weir Fishway Monitoring Report August 2010, DEEDI, Bundaberg.
2. ^ O'Connor, J, Stuart, I, Jones, M & Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (2017), Guidelines for the design, approval and construction of fishways. [online] Available at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-664261559 [Accessed 25 February 2021].
3. ^ a b c d O’Connor, J, Stuart, I & Mallen-Cooper, M (2015), 'Performance, operation and maintenance guidelines for fishways and fish passage works', Trove. [online] Available at: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-480267623 [Accessed 10 November 2020].
4. ^ a b Stuart, IG & Marsden, TJ (2019), 'Evaluation of cone fishways to facilitate passage of small-bodied fish', Aquaculture and Fisheries. [online] Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaf.2019.02.003.

Last updated: 30 April 2021