AI Fish Passage Moves 10,000 Fish in Australia Trial

An innovative fish passage system powered by artificial intelligence is showing real promise in preventing ecological disasters along Australia's Darling River.

The Finnish technology, operated by Fishheart, has moved about 10,000 native fish through its pipeline system since September 2025. The AI identifies species like golden perch and Murray cod, then transports them over roads and weirs to reach spawning areas in the Menindee Lakes of far west New South Wales.

The goal is simple but critical: reduce competition for food, space, and oxygen that can lead to mass fish deaths. In 2023, somewhere between 20 and 30 million fish died in the region during an ecological disaster that shocked the nation.

"We've seen a lot more golden perch using the fishway and Murray cod as well, which is really promising," said Tony Townsend from New South Wales' Department of Primary Industries, which funded the $6.52 million trial. The system works by pulling water from the reservoir through a pipeline into a unit that collects fish and transports them over barriers.

The technology struggled initially with the murky water of the Darling River, but operators made design changes between year one and year two. Mika Sohlberg from Fishheart compared the process to building a Formula 1 team, saying it takes years of refinement.

Professor Lee Baumgartner, a fisheries expert at Charles Sturt University, calls the numbers encouraging. "There's been a lot of trials of other technology that don't have any fish, so it's a good start for a new technology," he said.

The trial emerged from recommendations by independent panels investigating the 2023 fish deaths. Experts agreed a permanent fish ladder was needed at the Menindee main weir, but that would take five to six years minimum and cost significantly more.

The Bright Side

This temporary solution fills a crucial gap while long-term infrastructure gets planned and built. The technology has potential to be manufactured in Australia and distributed throughout the Murray-Darling Basin, protecting fish populations at multiple choke points.

Sohlberg believes multiple units working together could genuinely prevent future mass die-offs. The trial runs through June 2027, giving the team more time to refine the AI and prove the concept works at scale.

Even skeptics like local Dave Baker, who worries 10,000 fish is too small compared to millions at risk, acknowledge that something needs to be done. The conversation has shifted from whether to act to which solutions work best.

For native fish struggling to complete their life cycles in a changing river system, this AI passage represents a lifeline built on innovation and hope.