Specialist Provider of Fisheries Advice
We are a specialist provider of Fisheries, Fish Passage and Fish Habitat Rehabilitation services. With over 40 years combined experience in the industry, we strive to implement common sense solutions for a variety of issues that will maximise fisheries productivity and maintain native fish populations and habitats.
While we are committed to the protection of the fisheries resources of our region, we are also conscious that our fisheries are a shared resource that should be used by the recreational, commercial, indigenous and non-fisher communities. We work hard to produce outcomes that satisfy stakeholders, regulators and of course the fish!
Tim Marsden
Tim Marsden is a Fisheries Biologist and the principal of AFPS with extensive experience in freshwater fisheries throughout Australia and S.E. Asia. Tim has previously worked within both NSW Fisheries and Fisheries Queensland, accumulating over 30 years of experience within the fisheries science community. Tim specialises in the provision of project identification, design and implementation services for aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects having overseen the successful implementation of hundreds of individual projects, from small local projects through to large state-wide and international programs. Tim is also an innovator, leading the field of fish passage science in Australia through the development of new fish passage designs and innovative solutions to fish passage problems.
Melinda Scanlon
Melinda Scanlon is a Fisheries Scientist with many years’ experience in project management, aquatic habitat rehabilitation and scientific surveys. Mel has over 20 years’ experience in the fisheries and fish passage fields, having worked for Fisheries Queensland in northern and central Queensland before joining AFPS. Mel has overseen many fish passage projects, including many throughout Queensland, working with regional NRM, council, consulting engineers, infrastructure owners and other bodies to manage projects through the design process, assessment/development, waterway barrier works approvals, implementation, and monitoring phases. Mel has also worked with government agencies in Indonesia, Cambodia and New Zealand to implement training in fish passage ecology. Mel’s fish passage and project management expertise are currently being utilised in a number of fish passage projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Joachim Bretzel
Joachim Bretzel is a freshwater fish ecologist with international experience in applied conservation research and inland fisheries. He has contributed to a range of fish passage and river management projects across Australia, including work throughout the Murray–Darling Basin. He works closely with universities, government agencies, engineers, and water infrastructure operators to deliver monitoring programs and ecological assessments. His expertise spans field-based survey methods, data analysis, and the interpretation of complex ecological datasets. Joachim completed his PhD on fish protection screens at water intakes, with a focus on minimising entrainment and protecting native fish species. At AFPS, he works as a Fisheries Scientist, contributing to multiple projects related to fish passage and aquatic fauna assessment, and leading key monitoring programs associated with the Rookwood Weir and offset projects at the Fitzroy River.
Thomas Molloy
Thomas Molloy is a marine scientist and mechanical engineer with a background in fluid dynamics and green engineering. Across his career he has worked with private and public institutions on the planning, implementation and presentation of long-term projects across eastern Australia focused on the protection and sustainable exploitation of natural resources. With AFPS, Thomas has been involved in all stages of fish passage projects; from leading site inspections across eastern Australia, to designing and supervising the construction of fishways in Australia and New Zealand. Over the last several years, Thomas has developed extensive field experience in fish community monitoring, with expertise in a wide range of sampling and survey techniques, as well as hands-on involvement in river restoration projects.
Anthony Jenkins
Anthony Jenkins has a background in biology, environmental science and fisheries, with hands-on experience in environmental consulting and aquatic habitat rehabilitation across Australia. After beginning his career in the Australian Army, he transitioned into the scientific field, applying his technical skills to fisheries and aquatic ecosystem management. As a Fisheries Project Officer, Anthony has contributed to the delivery of a range of projects, with a focus on data management and practical, field-based outcomes. His current work centres on fish community monitoring and fish passage, where he supports initiatives aimed at improving ecosystem function and long-term sustainability. He has recently expanded his technical skillset through further study in Maritime Operations, strengthening his capability in aquatic field operations.
Lydia Prandle
Lydia Prandle is a marine scientist with a focus on fish ecology and aquatic habitat management. She has led research on coral health and disease on Norfolk Island, gaining hands-on experience in field survey design, data collection, and analysis. Lydia has also worked with local Council, delivering environmental programs, coordinating monitoring activities, and supporting project implementation. As a Project Officer at Australasian Fish Passage Services, Lydia contributes to fish passage and aquatic restoration projects across eastern Australia. Her work includes fishway monitoring at Seaham Weir, where she assists with fish trapping, data analysis, and technical reporting, as well as supporting field operations and project delivery at Rookwood Weir. Through this work, she has developed strong skills in field-based research, ecological monitoring, and translating data into practical management outcomes to improve aquatic ecosystem connectivity and health.
Rose Washbourne
Rose is an early-career Fisheries Project Officer with a background in Coastal and Marine Science and a strong interest in aquatic ecosystems and fisheries management. She has gained hands-on experience in water quality monitoring, GIS mapping, and field-based data collection through university studies, including fieldwork along the NSW coast and seagrass monitoring during her industry placement. Rose is now expanding her skills at Australasian Fish Passage Services, contributing to fish passage and river restoration projects, supporting fieldwork, and helping protect aquatic ecosystems now and into the future.
Sven Reuken
Sven is a marine biologist with a background in aquaculture who has transitioned his skills into applied ecology, specialising in fish passage and freshwater fish community assemblages. He has managed aquaculture laboratories, supported research development, and contributed to university teaching programs. His experience includes fish behavioural dynamics, stream monitoring, data collection and analysis, and assisting in the preparation of technical reports. Sven now applies this expertise at Australasian Fish Passage Services as a Project Officer, where he monitors fish passage works, utilises emerging technologies such as ARIS sonar, and contributes to improving aquatic ecosystem health.