This web tool is based upon the booklet Fishes on Cotton Farms - a guide to native fish and habitat management for North West NSW
Cotton production is one of Australia’s most important agricultural industries. It supports several regional economies, including those in the north-west region of NSW. A great deal has been said about the potential impact that this intensive industry may have on the surrounding environment and as such, land managers in the region are working to ensure that biodiversity in agricultural areas is maintained as part of a profitable production system. Sustainable land management includes best management practices, which aim to reduce the impact cotton production can have on the environment. Landholders are now looking for further guidance and assistance to better manage their natural systems and the animals that live within them.
The aquatic and riparian environments go ‘hand in hand’ with cotton production. The plants and animals that these systems support can provide a good indication of the health of that system. This is particularly true for fish populations. Native fish are very sensitive to environmental change, and the distribution and abundance of native fish species can reflect the condition of the surrounding land. The cotton industry is now working closely with natural resource managers to develop and implement ‘fish friendly’ practices that improve the health of rivers and waterways. It is now more widely accepted that protecting and improving the condition of riparian lands, rivers, creeks and wetlands, is a key component of sustainable land management. By observing and monitoring fishes in and around cotton farms, land managers and the wider community will be able to discover first hand the benefits of implementing best management practices.
