Bangkok:The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has announced a collaboration with Australia to advance the FishTech Plus project, focusing on the sustainable development of fish passages.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Yongyos Niemsap, a civil engineering expert and chairman of the Thai-Australian agricultural cooperation committee, assigned Mr. Promongkol Chidchob to chair the FishTech Plus project kick-off meeting. The meeting included members of the Fish Passage Initiative working group from the RID and the Department of Fisheries, representatives from ACIAR, the Australian Embassy, and experts from The Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia. The purpose of the meeting was to understand the project's objectives, its implementation approach, and the emphasis on GEDSI. The meeting was held at the RID headquarters in Bangkok.
The project is entering Phase 2, which will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030. Its objectives include designing fish passages for irrigation structures like sluice gates, weirs, and dams to restore ecosystems and support aquatic life. The project also aims to enhance the capacity of RID personnel in designing fish passages and develop a national guideline manual.
The "Hat Saphan Chan Floodgate Project in Sukhothai Province" has been selected as a pilot area. Experts from CSU are set to visit Thailand from October 28-30, 2026, for a meeting and site visit.
Additionally, Australian experts met with Mr. Songpol Suaysom, Deputy Director-General of RID, to discuss the project's progress and explore further cooperation opportunities. This collaboration aims to promote academic cooperation between Thailand and Australia for sustainable water management.