A NEW $600,000 fishway will make it easier for native fish to navigate the Kerang weir and migrate between the Murray River, the Loddon River and Pyramid Creek in Victoria.

The 47-metre long concrete vertical slot fishway on the Loddon River has 12 baffles to restrict water flow and encourage the movement of fish such as Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch, gudgeon and Murray rainbow fish.

Speaking at this month's official opening, North Central CMA river health manager Brad Durst said the project was part of the five-year Loddon stressed rivers restoration plan.

Mr Durst said the CMA had worked with landholders to protect more than 200km of river frontage, improve 500ha of streamside vegetation and recreate 4km of fish habitat while removing more than 100ha of invasive willow species.

"We're also managing environmental water to avoid catastrophic events during the drought," he said.

"The fishway opens up 50km of the Loddon River to additional fish passage and habitat . . . the focus now turns to monitoring its effectiveness and understanding its impacts."

Goulburn Murray Water spokesman Greg Stevens said it was the 16th fishway built by GMW since 1997, with construction of the 17th already under way at Gunbower, Victoria.

Mr Stevens said the project was unique because it required modifications to the weir and the bridge 200m upstream to increase water depth.

With a $640,000 budget, Mr Stevens said the fishway was built by GMW crews during the winter "off season" and finished in September.

The project was completed "on time, under budget and with no (workplace or environmental) incidents", Mr Stevens said.