We’re passionate about helping to improve food security, and sustain both livelihoods and biodiversity on a global scale.
Current Projects
The IFRG is currently involved in the following projects:
Completed Projects
The IFRG’s list of completed projects is located here:
Improving irrigation infrastructure
Project Period
2021-2022
Project Funding
$42,000 (FAO)
Project Partners
- CSU
- FAO
FishTech: Integrating technical fisheries solutions into river development programs across South East Asia
Project Period
2022-2025
Project Funding
$4,545,454 (DFAT)
Project Partners
- CSU
- DFAT
Next Generation Water Engineering and River Management Hub
Project Period
2022-2025
Project Funding
$3,600,000 (Australian Government Regional Research Collaboration program)
Project Partners
- CSU
- UNSW
Houy Mak Hiew Fishway (to be constructed)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Mak Hiew Fishway
Design Type
Vertical slot
Construction Cost
Awaiting project approval
Funded By
ADB/Netherlands
No. Species
104
Target Length Range
Up to 800 mm
Target Biomass
Unknown but expected to be high
Upstream Villages
17
Upstream Households
7,000
Nam Tong Fishway (2020)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Nam Tong Fishway
Design Type
Rock-ramp bypass
Construction Cost
Tendering in 2021
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
Not assessed yet
Target Length Range
29-314 mm
Target Biomass
10.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
3
Upstream Households
230
Houy Xang Nam Fishway (2020)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Xang Nam Fishway
Design Type
Villager built rock-ramp with gate crane
Construction Cost
US$1,200
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
108
Target Length Range
25-313 mm
Target Biomass
5.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
1
Upstream Households
250
Houy Poun Fishway (2020)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Poun Fishway
Design Type
Villager built rock-ramp with gate crane
Construction Cost
US$1,400
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
108
Target Length Range
25-313 mm
Target Biomass
5.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
1
Upstream Households
250
Houy Van Varth Fishway (2020)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Van Varth Fishway
Design Type
Villager built rock-ramp with gate crane
Construction Cost
US$2,800
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
1
Upstream Households
250
Nam Beng Fishway (2019)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Nam Beng Fishway
Design Type
Modified trapezoidal
Construction Cost
US$2,420
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
23
Target Length Range
29-314 mm
Target Biomass
10.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
1
Upstream Households
194
Nam Met Weir and Fishway (2019)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Nam Met Weir and Fishway
Design Type
Modified trapezoidal
Construction Cost
US$2,311
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
23
Target Length Range
29-314 mm
Target Biomass
10.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
1
Upstream Households
194
Pak Peung Fishway (2013)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Pak Peung Fishway
Design Type
Cone bypass fishway
Construction Cost
$128,000
Funded By
ACIAR
No. Species
108
Target Length Range
12-805 mm
Target Biomass
48.5 Kg/d
Upstream Villages
6
Upstream Households
1,008
Pak Peung Regulator (2016)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Pak Peung Regulator (2016)
Design Type
Overshot layflat gates
Construction Cost
$90,000
Funded By
ACIAR
No. Species
114
Target Length Range
5-225 mm
Target Biomass
40.65 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
6
Upstream Households
1,008
Houy Sokbo Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Sokbo Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$85,420
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
6
Upstream Households
1,767
Houy Souy Fishway (2016)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Souy Fishway
Design Type
Two cone fishways - one either side of weir
Construction Cost
US$51,625
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
42
Target Length Range
18-235 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
17
Upstream Households
3,184
Houy Bangkak Fish pass (2016)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Bangkak Fish pass
Design Type
Apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$86,012
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
3
Upstream Households
321
Houy Khe Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Khe Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$59,813
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
2
Upstream Households
212
Houy Sadu Fish pass (2016)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Sadu Fish pass
Design Type
Slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$63,496
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
2
Upstream Households
364
Houy Papak Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Papak Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$95,789
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
7
Upstream Households
691
Houy Kae Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Kae Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$54,656
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
3
Upstream Households
344
Houy Phine Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Phine Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment, apron modification, culvert baffles and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$53,370
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
4
Upstream Households
504
Houy Boun Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Boun Fish pass
Design Type
Upstream apron modification, slide gate refurbishment and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$62,041
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
3
Upstream Households
231
Houy Lo Fish pass (2015)
Country
Lao PDR
Site Name
Houy Lo Fish pass
Design Type
Flap gate crane, slide gate refurbishment and bank stabilisation
Construction Cost
US$77,987
Funded By
World Bank
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
6
Upstream Households
1,527
Srey Snom Fishway (proposed)
Country
Cambodia
Site Name
Srey Snom Fishway
Design Type
Cone and rock ramp
Construction Cost
US$50,000
Funded By
USAID
No. Species
104
Target Length Range
13-560 mm
Target Biomass
240 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
100
Upstream Households
1,487
Sambor Weir Fishway (proposed)
Country
Cambodia
Site Name
Sambor Weir Fishway
Design Type
Vertical slot
Construction Cost
US$80,000
Funded By
USAID
No. Species
45
Target Length Range
13-560 mm
Target Biomass
240 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
500
Upstream Households
8,165
Chheukrom Fishway (2021)
Country
Cambodia
Site Name
Chheukrom Fishway
Design Type
Vertical slot
Construction Cost
US$350,000
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
120
Target Length Range
13-560 mm
Target Biomass
240 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
50
Upstream Households
1406
Makara Dam Fishway (2005)
Country
Cambodia
Site Name
Makara Dam Fishway
Design Type
Vertical slot
Construction Cost
US$300,000
Funded By
ADB
No. Species
55
Target Length Range
77-315 mm
Target Biomass
2.42
Upstream Villages
70
Upstream Households
13,203
Ea Tul Fishway (under construction)
Country
Vietnam
Site Name
Ea Tul Fishway
Design Type
Vertical slot
Construction Cost
$US78,000
Funded By
USAID
No. Species
55
Target Length Range
Expected <300 mm
Target Biomass
10.3 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
10
Upstream Households
-
Sang Khom Fishway (2012)
Country
Thailand
Site Name
Sang Khom Fishway
Design Type
Rock Ramp
Construction Cost
US$500
Funded By
Province
No. Species
110
Target Length Range
12-330 mm
Target Biomass
4.56 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
5
Upstream Households
-
Wang Chang Fishway (2019)
Country
Thailand
Site Name
Wang Chang Fishway
Design Type
Cone
Construction Cost
US$70,000
Funded By
USAID
No. Species
108
Target Length Range
12-805 mm
Target Biomass
48.5 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
20
Upstream Households
-
Shan Gaing Sluice (to be constructed)
Country
Myanmar
Site Name
Shan Gaing Sluice
Design Type
Dual vertical-slot
Construction Cost
Est. US$500,000
Funded By
Seeking funding
No. Species
44
Target Length Range
Expected 20-1200 mm
Target Biomass
Unknown but expected to be high
Upstream Villages
6
Upstream Households
51136
Kbal Hong Fishway (2018)
Country
Cambodia
Site Name
Kbal Hong Fishway
Design Type
Cone
Construction Cost
US$78,000
Funded By
USAID
No. Species
115
Target Length Range
13-560 mm
Target Biomass
0.1 - 449 Kg/day
Upstream Villages
50 approx.
Predicting the impacts of river development on fish movement and population connectivity: A case study on the Clarence River system
Project Period
2020 - 2023
Project Funding
$26,500 (NSW DPI)
Project Partners
- Dr Jason Thiem (Adjunct CSU and Fisheries NSW)
- Dr Gavin Butler (Fisheries NSW)
- Dr Gregory Doran (CSU)
Development of fish passage criteria for floodplain species of Central Laos
Project Period
2006 - 2010
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- Australasian Fish Passage Services
- Kingfisher Research
- Thai Department of Fisheries
Pilot study for development of fish friendly irrigation and mini hydro design criteria for application in the Mekong and Murray-Darling basins
Project Period
2012 - 2013
Project Funding
$150,000
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
Monitoring the ecological response of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in 2013-14 to the Murrumbidgee River
Project Period
2013 - 2014
Project Funding
$671,801
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Commonwealth Environment Water Office (CEWO)
- NSW DPIE
Developing fish friendly design criteria for small hydro facilities
Project Period
2012 - 2014
Project Funding
$144,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Socio-economic study of farmer adoption of tilapia fish production in Aceh, Indonesia
Project Period
2012 - 2015
Project Funding
$64,000
Project Partners
Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Socio-economic study of fish harvesting and use by villagers around Pak Peung reservoir in Laos
Project Period
2012 - 2015
Project Funding
$66,180
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Examination of the relationships between stream water flow and fish species and invertebrate taxa using hierarchical regression analyses
Project Period
2012 - 2015
Project Funding
$70,651
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Development of fish passage technology to increase fisheries production on floodplains in the Lower Mekong Basin
Project Period
2010 – 2015
Project Funding
$1,837,834
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- NSW DPI
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- Australasian Fish Passage Services
Foundational activities for the Fish Theme of Environmental Water Knowledge and Research (EWKR)
Project Period
2016
Project Funding
$16,800
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Evidence-based scientific advice – Lasting environmental benefits of non-flow measures in the Murray-Darling Basin
Project Period
2016
Project Funding
$9,090
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Development of State-wide framework for monitoring long-term responses of wetlands to environmental watering
Project Period
2015 - 2016
Project Funding
$11,500
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Complementary measures for native fish
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$33,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Recovery of native fish communities in the Murray-Darling Basin
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$18,948
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Development of strategies to optimise release and clean up strategies underpinning possible use of herpes virus 3 (CyHV-3) for carp biocontrol in Australia
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$30,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
- K&C Fisheries Global Pty Ltd
PIT tag data analysis project
Project Period
2018 - 2019
Project Funding
$25,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
PIT tag database
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$30,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- KarlTek Pty Ltd
In search of the elusive Mekong salmon
Project Period
2016 - 2019
Project Funding
$38,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Develoment of fish passage technology for floodplains
Project Period
2016
Project Funding
$140,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Murray River fishway assessments
Project Period
2016
Project Funding
$55,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Global Connections Fund – Irrigation Modernization: Working with farmers to innovate for the environment
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$49,156
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Fish investigations associated with Snowy 2.0 – Snowy Hydro Ltd. Assignment 1.
Project Period
2017 – 2018
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Snowy Hydro Limited
Murray small-bodied threatened fish project
Project Period
2017 – 2018
Project Funding
$52,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Murray Local Land Services
- NSW DPI
Macca’s in the Mannus: Macquarie perch refuge in the Upper Murray
Project Period
2017 – 2018
Project Funding
$120,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Murray Local Land Services
- NSW DPI
Recovery of native fish communities in the Murray-Darling Basin
Project Period
2017
Project Funding
$19,462
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Basin-scale Evaluation and Research Services. Stage 1.
Project Period
2019
Project Funding
$42,418
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Commonwealth Environment Water Holder (CEWO)
Predicting redfin survival through the Snowy 2.0 scheme. Assignment 2.
Project Period
2018 - 2020
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- NSW DPI
- Snowy Hydro Limited
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP (Brazil))
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL (USA))
- JAD Systems (USA)
Fishing for answers: Unlocking spawning and recruitment for Murray-Darling recreational species
Project Period
2017 – 2020
Project Funding
$100,000
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Developing design guidelines for diversion screens that save native fish and enhance agricultural productivity
Project Period
2018 – 2020
Project Funding
$299,331 (Ian Potter Foundation)
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- AWMA Water Control Solutions
- Ian Potter Foundation
Improving the design of irrigation infrastructure to increase fisheries production in floodplain wetlands of the Lower Mekong and Murray-Darling basins
Project Period
2014 – 2019
Project Funding
$ 1,238,683
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- AWMA Water Control Solutions
Recovering the Lower Darling
Project Period
2020
Project Funding
$12,327
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
UA-DAAD – Enhancing the environmental sustainability of hydropower projects
Project Period
2019 – 2020
Project Funding
$25,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Sustainable hydropower and multipurpose storage to meet the Water, Food and Energy SDGs
Project Period
2018 - 2020
Project Funding
$67,500 Euros
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- IHE Delft
Basin-scale Evaluation and Research Services. Stage 2.
Project Period
2020 – 2022
Project Funding
University of Canberra, $101,750, CSIRO, $72,727. Total $174,477
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Commonwealth Environment Water Holder (CEWO)
- University of Canberra
- CSIRO
Delta Flows: The Role that Delta’s play in sustaining basin-scale fisheries in the Mekong and Irrawaddy Rivers
Project Period
2017 – 2021
Project Funding
$30,127 (IHE Delft)
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- National Geographic Society
- IHE Delft
Advancing fish-protection screening at Australian water diversions
Project Period
2019 – 2022
Project Funding
$95,000 (NSW DPI)
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Screens for Streams: Boosting native fish stocks through improved water extraction practices
Project Period
2019 – 2023
Project Funding
$211,165 (NSW DPI-NSW Recreational Fishing Trust)
Project Partners
- NSW DPI
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
Modernising irrigated agriculture to protect and restore aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services in South East Asia
Project Period
2019 – 2021
Project Funding
$484,107 (Australian Water Partnership/UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO))
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
- Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- Mekong River Commission (MRC)
- South-East Asia Fisheries Development Centre
- WorldFish
- Delft-IHE
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
- International Water Management Institute
Fisheries monitoring in the Mekong Basin to assess impacts of mainstream hydropower projects as part of the Mekong River Joint Environment Monitoring (JEM)
Project Period
2020 – 2022
Project Funding
$640,774
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- NSW DPI
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ – Germany)
- International Centre for Environmental Management (ICEM)
- Australian Water partnership (AWP)
- Mekong River Commission (MRC)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC – Lao PDR)
- KarlTek Pty Ltd
- AusVet International
- Vemco
Maccas in the Mannus: Bushfire Recovery (2020-2022)
Project Period
2020 - 2022
Project Funding
$196,400 (Murray Local Land Services, NSW DPI Fisheries)
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- NSW DPI
- Murray Local Land Services
Assessing fisheries mitigation measures at Xayaburi Dam in Lao PDR
Project Period
2018 – 2022
Project Funding
$1.4M (ACIAR, DFAT)
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- Xayaburi Power Company Limited (XPCL)
- KarlTek Pty Ltd
- Fish Matters IP
Quantifying biophysical and community impacts of improved fish passage in Lao PDR and Myanmar
Project Period
2016 – 2021
Project Funding
$2.6M (ACIAR)
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- University of South Australia
- Australasian Fish Passage Services
Translating fish passage research outcomes into policy and legislation across South East Asia
Project Period
2020 - 2024
Project Funding
$2,867,857 (ACIAR)
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT)
- National University of Laos (NUoL)
- Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (LARReC (Lao PDR))
- Hendricks Consulting
- Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Myanmar)
- Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (Cambodia)
- Fishway Consulting Services
Diadromous fish of the Mekong: Managing long distance fish migrations at mainstream dam sites
Project Period
2020
Project Funding
$19,000
Project Partners
- Charles Sturt University (CSU)
- Australian Centre for Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
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