Industry and Investment NSW senior conservation manager Sam Davis said recent rainfall and higher flows have meant fish in the Macquarie, including natives golden perch and Murray cod, often travel many kilometres upstream to find that special place on a snag to spawn.

Illegal fishers are preventing these fish from moving past Warren weir by illegally entering the fishway and blocking off sections.

“Fishways enable fish to move up and down the river past weirs to find food, mate and establish new territories, by acting like a large water-filled staircase that enables fish to negotiate the difference in river height caused by a weir or dam,” Ms Davis said.

“During ideal flow conditions, a fishway allows hundreds of fish to move upstream every day. The fishways on the creeks and rivers near Warren are highly engineered and were expensive to construct.

“It can take a fish many hours to travel through a fishway, and unfortunately we believe a few selfish individuals are now rendering the Warren fishway inoperable by placing refrigerator doors, grills and other objects in the fishway to block the movement of fish, presumably for their own gain.”

Anyone with information relating to obstructing the fishway is urged to contact Warren Police, State Water or the Fishers’ Watch phone line on 1800 043 536.

Freshwater native fish stocks have declined during the past 200 years and methods such as trapping, used to catch fish in the past, are simply not sustainable by today’s standards.

Industry and Investment NSW compliance director Glenn Tritton said legal methods of catching fish along with fish size and bag limits have been carefully formulated to maintain the sustainability of fish populations.

“Illegal fishing can severely impact on fish stocks and offenders engaged in this type of activity will be targeted and face very heavy penalties,” he said.

“If you are considering engaging in any form of illegal fishing activity, you are reminded that penalties for illegal fishing can range up to $22,000 and six months in prison. Fishing is a sport and breaking the rules is cheating.”

State Water senior asset field officer Rob Christoff said the fishway is a confined space with water flowing through at very high velocity at times and is not safe for public entry.

“The fishway is a restricted area and fencing and signage around the fishway warn people not to enter. Anyone entering the fishway without authorisation is considered trespassing,” Mr Christoff said.

“People entering the fishway are committing a number of offences that could result in substantial fines or a term of imprisonment if convicted.

“In addition to trespassing, obstructing fish passage and taking fish by illegal methods are offences under the Fisheries Management Act.”