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Fish ladders

Fish ladders

What is a fish ladder?

Fish LadderA fish ladder (also referred to as a fishway or fish pass) is a structure designed to allow fish the opportunity to migrate upstream over or through a barrier to fish movement.

Why use Fish Ladder Solutions?

Old style fish passages are usually made with concrete and rock, which take a lot of time and money to construct and the natural habitat is disrupted due to the need to use heavy machinery to divert the waterway during the construction process and the fatal leaching of lime from freshly poured concrete. These concrete and rock passages often erode rapidly as concrete cracks and breaks away and water eventually undermines the integrity of the structure.

Having been through this process on our own property, Fish Ladder Solutions saw the need to come up with a better way to construct an effective fish passage. After four years in development, we have perfected and patented our uniquely designed fibreglass fish ladder that is cost effective, environmentally friendly, easy to install and as they can be made off site they are far less disruptive to the natural habitat.

Some information about stainless steel fish ladders

Stainless steel fish ladders are the same concept as our fibreglass fish ladders,they are more suitable for areas that have higher volumes of rock and debris. These fish ladders still have the same resting pools, spat rope and baffles but an extra feature is the planting pocket which we plant a native plant in. This plant can provide shade and protection for all our native fish and extra assistance for our climbing native fish. These stainless steel (patented) fish ladders can be made in various widths and lengths.

Proven To Be Effective

There has been a fish count survey performed out at Okiritoto Stream at Muriwai Beach to prove how effective these ladders and baffles are, done first before the ladders and baffles where installed and then again once ladders and baffles where installed with very pleasing results.

When the first set of ladders and baffles where installed on the first night of fish counting 2 banded kokopu and 100+native fish climbed, which was a wonderful result. When the second set of ladders and baffles where installed, 500+ native fish climbed on the second night of fish counting.

Features of our Fish Ladders

  • Stops culvert pipes erosion
  • Moulded river stones have a great advantage in assisting fish upstream as they rest between the stones which are moulded into the fish ladder
  • Resting pools which are set at every 1.5 metres allow fish to rest in the water on their journey upstream
  • Light weight but very strong and robust moulded fish ladder
  • Quick and easy to install
  • Fits all size culvert pipes and weirs by a simple change to the starter flange
  • Modular: comes in 1.5 metre lengths which bolts together for length desired and can add corners to change direction if needed.
  • Environmentally friendly
  • NZ designed and made
  • Made to blend with any environment (colour can be changed to suit)
  • Normally resource consent not needed
  • Proven to work

Our services include

  • manufacture and install fish ladders and pipe baffles nation wide
  • organize fish counting
  • inspect and advise solutions for culvert pipes and weirs
  • follow up maintenance and inspections
  • no job too big or too small

A gallery of stainless steel fish ladders

A gallery of our fibreglass fish ladders

 

Categories
Fish baffles

Fishway baffles

WHAT IS A FISH WAY BAFFLE?

DSCF8307 (Copy)Fish Way baffles are a must for any culvert pipe to assist fish in their journey upstream to reproduce. These baffles slow water down and raise the water levels to at least 100mm on a low flow. Fish can live within these baffles protecting them from predators and migrate through them on their way upstream.

This is a brand new patented design from Fish Ladder Solutions. A fish way baffle is a must for any culvert pipe to assist fish in their journey upstream to reproduce. These baffles slow water down and raise water levels to 100mls on a low flow. Fish can live in these baffles protecting them from predators. They are cost effective, easy to install, long lasting and strong. They will also regulate the flow of water down a fish ladder.

 

A gallery of our fish baffles and spat ropes

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About us

About Fish Ladder Solutions

Shane Wright - Fish Ladder Solutions
Shane Wright, designer and developer of Fish Ladder Solutions products

Fish ladder Solutions is owned by Shane Wright, the designer and developer of all of Fish Ladder Solutions’ products.

The concept for our unique fish ladders New Zealand’s freshwater fish are part of our natural freshwater ecosystem. They are a traditional food source and an important part of our recreational and commercial fisheries.

Many of our native fish species need to migrate between freshwater and the sea during their life. Their survival depends on it. Fish like whitebait and elvers (young eels) swim up rivers from the sea. They must pass through culverts and over weirs on their journeys. Other freshwater fish, such as the introduced trout, must also be able to move upstream to spawn. Poorly installed culverts or weirs that restrict fish passage will reduce the amount of habitat available for fish, causing a decline in fish numbers.

Testimonial

Here’s a testimonial we have had from Dr Kearney, a Marine Biologist

“The results speak for themselves, prior to the installation of the fish ladders only a handful of fish were counted in the stream above the culvert, however, once the fish ladder was installed, the number of fish climbing the ladder and migrating into habitat above the culvert barrier is nothing short of astounding. Thousands of Freshwater shrimp, hundreds of whitebait and juvenile eels, and tens of common bully were counted.”

Dr. Mick Kearney (Marine Biologist)

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Contact us

Contact Fish Ladder Solutions

You can use the contact form below, or call us directly.

Shane Wright
Fish Ladder Solutions
Tel. (09) 432 1616
Mob. 027 260 0568
Email. shane.wright@xtra.co.nz

We provide no-obligation quotes, and in many cases we can estimate costings simply by looking at photographs of the area.

Call us today!

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News

In the news

WHITEBAIT SAVED BY LOCAL HEROES AND SOCIAL MEDIA 6/02/2018

Juvenile īnanga (whitebait) had been struggling to reach their adult habitat in a stream in Auckland until Shane built a fish ladder to help the whitebait over the weir. Read More>

FISH GET A HELPING HAND – MANAWATU STANDARD 14/02/2012

Native fish will be able to get around a lot easier after Horizons Regional Council installed 10 fibreglass fish ladders and two ropes near Eketahuna, Woodville Shannon and Foxton.

Part of work for the Manawatu River Accord, the sites were chosen based on the number and conservation status of fish that were likely to benefit. Read More>

MANAWATU’S NATIVE FISH CAN NOW SWIM FREELY – SCOOP INDEPENDANT NEWS 13/02/2012

Native fish within the Manawatu catchment can now swim freely, thanks to the installation of a number of fish ladders and fish ropes.

As part of work for the Manawatu River Accord, Horizons Regional Council has installed 10 fish ladders and two fish ropes throughout the catchment, at sites ranging from around Ekatahuna, through to Woodville and across to Shannon and Foxton. Fish ladders are planned for a further four sites. Read More>

FISH GET HELP TO GO UP-STREAM – NOR-WEST NEWS 25/11/2010

How do you get fish upstream? Shane Wright has found an ingenious way.

The Muriwai resident makes and installs fibreglass fish ladders which help them get past culverts and other usually man-made obstacles to breed upstream. Read More>

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Gallery

Gallery of our work

These are just some of the many installations we have done.

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Videos

Fish Ladder videos

Here are just a few videos of Fish Ladder Solutions products in action: