Aquatic animals given a place to stay when travelling through the Collie River with new fish hotels

There are possibly more hotels underwater than on land now in the South West, with new fish hotels taking the plunge into the Collie River.

The Leschenault Catchment Council installed the first of the structures in the Collie River last month as part of a program to increase the aquatic habitat and preserve the biodiversity of the fish and crustaceans that call it home.

Community members gathered in May to build the aquatic accommodation with OzFish Australia’s Steve Purcell at Minninup Pool, and last month with the support of the State Government using materials provided by the Shire of Collie and the South West Gateway Alliance.

Twelve of the fish hotels have been submerged and will be monitored for the next few years, aiming to determine the effectiveness of the structures.

The hotels were expertly installed by the Leschenault Catchment Council’s Danju works crew, alongside scientists from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and cultural monitors Joe Northover and James Khan.

With agricultural activities and mining upstream, the Collie River has seen dramatic changes over the years and these new hotels offer marine animals a refuge during time of drought and will improve their habitat overall.

LCC’s Danju and Conservation Works program manager Chris Howe said they should clearly see the benefits of establishing new habitat in due time.

“While installing the new fish hotels it was evident how little habitat is currently available for fish and crustacean species in the Collie River,” he said.

“Through this project we can clearly see benefits to establishing structures in which these species can hide, breed and live.”

The LCC will be returning to the Collie River next year to install hotels in another pool, and are keen to involve the community in their future projects.