Juvenile barramundi are on the move in the Mackay region.
Recent monitoring of fish ladders, situated in the Rocky Dam catchment south of Mackay, has recorded huge numbers of juvenile fish migrating from upper tidal habitats into large, coastal wetlands.
Fish ladders are critical to provide access past fish barriers, so that juvenile fish can reach their desired wetland nursery habitats.
Overall, an average of 1,410 fish per day was recorded representing 10 species. Most importantly, record numbers of juvenile barramundi were recorded with an average of 86 per day ascending one of the fish ladders monitored.