About
Background
The Fish Market concept was created by the World Fish Migration Foundation based in the Netherlands. Fish markets has previously been held in the Netherlands in 2011 and 2013 (Vismarkt) and in Sweden (Fiskmarknad 2013 and 2016) and Finland (Kalamarkkinat, 2015 and 2017). Fish Market audiences are water managers, fisherman, hydropower companies, consultants, governmental agencies, universities, non-governmental interest groups and organizations, retailers, and other interested organisations. Fish Markets are hosted in several countries, such as Finland, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands and more countries will follow.
The programme “Rhine 2020” of the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine, aims at restoring the ecological continuity of the Rhine from Lake Constance to the North Sea and that of priority tributaries for recolonization. In 2013, the Rhine Ministers stated that for juvenile salmon or adult eel, the downstream migration in the turbine areas is critical because of the great danger of injuries, particularly in cases of successive hydro power plants. The Ministers asked ICPR to intensively work on the joint determination of innovative techniques of downstream migration at transverse structures. The international workshop aims at implementing this international political assignment.
The introduction of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), implementation of the EU Eel Management Plan as well as regional policies have intensified the requirements on solving fish migration problems in the River Rhine Basin. Both water managers, hydropower plant owners and authorities must therefore take vigorous action to improve longitudinal connectivity in the River Rhine and its tributaries. Currently, there are a variety of solutions to the problems, some still being planned and others that have already been implemented and evaluated. Fishways are increasingly common for upstream migration. Since some years several projects aim at improving downstream passage, a formerly almost completely unexplored area. In addition there is a great need for correct monitoring of existing measures in order to show what works and where improvements are needed.
To maximize performance and cost effectiveness of new measures, we need news items, knowledge and experiences exchanged and disseminated among all who get involved in these issues.
Purpose
Conference purposes are:
- Bring together all those involved in the field of expertise of fish migration, fish passage and restoration;
- To create a meeting place for the manufacturers of solutions and potential customers;
- For the field of expertise of fish passage, fish migration and restoration in general:
- Create a comprehensive view of the current state of knowledge;
- Identify knowledge gaps;
- Create a professional network.
The event is organised with a constructive spirit and some basic questions to be answered:
- How do we achieve effective measures?
- What is important to consider?
- What should you avoid?
- How should the measures be correctly monitored?
