European Fundend Projects

  • ID:
    projects-581
  • fiwar:
    LIFE16 NAT/BE/000807
  • Project_Acronym:
    LIFE4FISH
  • Project_Name:
    Downstream fish migration along the low Meuse River
  • Funding Authority:
    LIFE
  • Call for proposals:
    Nature
  • Focus Area:
    Ecological coherence,Fish
  • Begin Date:
    2017-10-01
  • End Date:
    2023-09-30
  • Status:
    Completed
  • Budget:
    € 003 189 478.00
  • Description:
    The project plans to characterise the populations and downstream migration routes along the Lower Meuse River. It will implement and monitor the impact of innovative ways of facilitating passage of fish through hydropower facilities, such as repelling barriers and fish passes, along with new hydropower control strategies. Specifically, the project aims to: Increase the survival rate of silver eels and salmon smolts to 80% and 90% in downstream migration; Increase the operation management capabilities of hydropower plants integrating fish migration intensity forecasts; Demonstrate the performance and transferability of solutions proposed; Identify migratory periods, downstream migration routes and influential parameters; Validate and demonstrate tools for monitoring downstream migration; Establish and demonstrate the value of a River Meuse stakeholder committee; and Establish a benchmark fostering large-scale replicability and transferability across the EU. Furthermore, the project aims to establish maximum direct mortality rates measured at 10% and 20% respectively for Atlantic salmon smolts and silver eels for all six hydropower sites. This objective will be reached with the roll-out of a set of innovative solutions combining systems that repel and guide fish, creating outlets for downriver migration and a system for anticipating critical periods. Expected results: Integrated Lower Meuse River basin approach favouring eel and salmon conservation and protection; Demonstration of a cumulated escapement rate exceeding 80% for eels and 90% for salmon; A powerful migration modelling and monitoring tool; An automated hydropower generation control and monitoring system; Two effective behavioural barriers preventing fish passing through dangerous routes during migration; A methodology taking into account local characteristics in operating hydropower plants; The commitment of 31 stakeholders from the Meuse river basin; and A transfer plan.
  • Resource:
    https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE16-NAT-BE-000807/downstream-fish-migration-along-the-low-meuse-river
  • Inland water types:
    Rivers and estuaries'