Modern Fish-Friendly Screens: A Smarter Way to Protect Fish and Improve Water Management

Modern fish-friendly screens are a game-changer compared to traditional inlet screens. Designed specifically for Australian conditions, these screens protect fish, larvae, and eggs during water extraction for irrigation, raw water supplies, and commercial or industrial uses like hydro, cooling systems, or manufacturing.

How Do Fish Screens Work?

Modern fish screens use two key methods to protect aquatic life:

1. Reduced Water Velocity: By lowering water speed at the point of intake, fish are less likely to be drawn into the system.

2. Physical Barrier: Fine mesh with a large surface area prevents fish and debris from entering extractions without reducing water volume.

These innovative screens prevent up to 90% of fish being sucked into irrigation pumps or drawn into off-takes, while effectively blocking debris, providing significant benefits for biodiversity and water users.

Benefits for Water Users

Modern fish screens offer practical advantages:

• Self-Cleaning Technology: Equipped with automatic brushes or water jets, they reduce clogging and maintenance, eliminating the need for frequent back-flushing or filter replacement in some systems.
• Versatile Applications: Suitable for pumps or channels, deep or shallow water, and adaptable to various flow rates and site conditions.
• Improved Efficiency: By keeping debris and fish out, screens help maintain cleaner water, reduce downtime, and improve system performance.

Selecting the right screen for a water extraction is critical. Factors such as river conditions, water flow, local fish populations, and site access determine the most suitable solution. Larger screen areas allow the use of finer mesh, ensuring optimal protection for fish without compromising water extraction. A range of screens are available in Australia from both local and overseas manufacturers. These can be adapted or combined to suit the needs of different water use applications and the location of the extraction.

Types of Fish Screens

• Cone Screens - Best for shallow water and high debris situations, for either pumps or gravity-fed extractions.
•  Cylinder Screens - Suit small or large pumps. Powered or unpowered cleaning brushes; fixed or retractable on rails.
• Half Cylinder Screens - Like full cylinder screens, but more suitable for shallow water sites.
• Rotating Pump Screens - Good for smaller pumps. The screen rotates to be cleaned by brushes or water jets.
• Horizontal Screens - Unpowered self-cleaning-by-design screens for gravity-fed channels.
• Vertical Screens - Self-cleaning screens for gravity-fed channels.
• Travelling Belt Screens - For gravity-fed channels. The screen moves like an escalator, moving debris up and over the screen itself.
  

The Need for Awareness

Despite their benefits, many water users are unaware of modern fish screens or their potential advantages. Providing clear information about their features, benefits, and value can help water users make informed decisions and adopt this technology. Authentic engagement and collaboration are key to ensuring win-win outcomes for both the environment and businesses. Modern fish-friendly screens represent the future of sustainable water management. By combining advanced technology with thoughtful design, they deliver real benefits for aquatic ecosystems and water users alike.

Boosting Fish-Friendly Screen Adoption in Australia

Modern fish-protection screens have made great progress in New South Wales, where they help protect native fish, provide cleaner water for agriculture, and deliver public benefits. However, adoption across the rest of Australia has been slower, showing the need for a stronger national effort. To unlock the full potential of this technology, we need to:

Focus on high-impact water extractions.

• Make screens more affordable with innovative financing and design.
• Encourage industry leadership to drive adoption.
• Showcase screens in more regions and for different water uses to raise awareness.

Further research is needed to:

• Highlight the value of screens for water users.
• Explore new applications and areas where screens can make a difference.

By addressing these challenges and increasing adoption, modern fish screens can play a key role in protecting ecosystems while supporting sustainable water access across Australia.