ACIAR launch fund summary report: International Conference on River Connectivity (Fish Passage 2018) and First Symposium on Hydropower and Fish Management

The International Conference on River Connectivity (Fish Passage 2018) was held in conjunction with the First Symposium on Hydropower and Fish Management, in Albury, NSW, from 10–14 December, 2018. The two meetings (collectively referred to as ‘the conference’ in this report) brought together 359 fish passage researchers and practitioners from over 30 countries to share knowledge and experiences relating to river connectivity issues for fish. A total of 232 presentations were given, which covered a number of major themes, including:
o Fish passage challenges in developing countries
o Benefits of managed flows
o The importance of reconnecting with floodplains and wetlands
o Diversion screening technology to protect native fish from being removed from rivers
o Citizen science and its role in fish passage restoration.
The goals of the conference were to:
o share findings and expertise on fish passage issues
o build connections between fisheries researchers and practitioners, to better
utilise both skillsets to address fish passage concerns throughout the world.