Barrier/Obstacle Assessment Course completed.

WFD111(2a) Coarse resolution rapid assessment methodology to assess obstacles to migration. I attended this course on April 5/6/7 th 2011. Held at the SEPA offices in Perth. A really interesting and informative course which will prove extremely useful in assessing the various obstacles within our area. It certainly made me look at these issues in a completely different light, their complexities when looked at closely illustrate the often extreme difficulties fish have to endure to reach their goal. Although some may be time consuming to assess, once broken down and the order of assessment followed, a detailed idea of the obstacle and an idea of possible pathways for fish to pass the obstacle can be ascertained. This does not only cover salmonid species but all species/guilds and so may have further implications with regard to biosecurity where undesirable species need to be stopped. The course started with a brief introduction and a run through of issues and the protocol. This was followed in the afternoon by a field visit and a short practical session involving techniques and equipment use...a taster. The second day was spent in the office, with an in depth look at the actual protocol, and why we do it. The Third day was spent out in the field where we were split into two groups and assessed a number of man made structures of varying complexity and under different conditions. At the end of the assessment each obstacle is then given a passability score and it is often possible to ascertain which factor may impede fish migration, this could be depth, velocity, height etc. So a lot of data/information can be gathered from each structure. All in all a very good course and thoroughly recommended........Chris