• Charles Sturt plays integral role in establishing Sleng Fishway
• The fishway will allow for increased fishing income for 5,000 families and the preservation of more than 100 local fish species
• An event was held in Siem Reap for journalists and stakeholders to tour the facility in November

A program to create solutions for fish and irrigation across Southeast Asia, developed by Charles Sturt University, was officially opened in Cambodia this month.

The Sleng Fishway will increase fishing income for up to 5,000 families and help preserve more than 100 local fish species. The fishway mitigates the impact of irrigation development, such as regulators, weirs and dams, on fish.

The fishway will allow fish to migrate freely, access food sources and spawning grounds and maintain a steady supply of fish for local fisheries. The ability for fish to migrate upstream and downstream is essential for protecting fish populations.

A freshwater fisheries Senior Research Fellow with Charles Sturt’s Gulbali Institute of Agriculture, Water and Environment, Dr John Conallin has been integral in establishing the facility in Cambodia.

“Fishways are an important infrastructure mitigation tool for the negative impacts irrigation weirs and dams have on fish migration and local fish populations,” he said.

“Providing fish passage at weirs, such as Sleng, allows for both fish to breed and rice to be grown, contributing positively to the local community’s food security and the country’s overall commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

An event was held in the Kralanh district of the Siem Reap province this month to welcome journalists, policy makers, development partners and fisheries experts to the facility to see it in operation.

The three-day program demonstrated the importance of the Sleng Fishway, showcased its design and construction from the project team, which included Charles Sturt researchers, and showed how locals will benefit from the fishway.

Meetings were held with local stakeholders so the team could gain information on how to select the best site and close engagement with the community was enacted through the design and construction of the fishway.

Dr Conallin said the consultation with local stakeholders allowed for the project to meet community needs.

“Local consultation and involvement of locals in the process allows for greater community ownership and trust in the process,” he said.

“For example, locals were concerned children might drown in the fishway, so grates were added to stop people being able to fish and swim in the fishway.”

This project was made possible through collaboration between Charles Sturt, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Cambodian government agencies and Siem Reap provincial authorities.