Our Program

18:10 – 18:40 UTC+2
Adding dimensions to fish passage considerations: Stage Zero and recent advances in floodplain restoration

Brian Cluer^1
1NOAA

Abstract: Fish passage has justly focused for decades on removing migration barriers in channels. However, recent studies on juvenile salmonid rearing habitat have highlighted the importance of off-channel habitats with rich food resources and quiescent waters. The differences in quality and quantity of rearing habitat between in-channel and off-channel habitat are significant, and many scientists now believe that river-floodplain connectivity is a necessary strategy for salmonid recovery. The ecological needs of salmonids, coupled with the increasing understanding of how human land modifications specifically targeted disconnecting off-channel habitat has led to recent advances in floodplain restoration science and practice in salmonid recovery. Stage 0 is a term coined by Cluer and Thorne (2013) to describe a pre-disturbance phase for alluvial river systems that is characterized by a network of anabranching channels, or no channel at all, with a high water table, and water interacting with sediment and vegetation across a large portion of alluvial valleys. The paper linked this phase with significantly greater ecosystem services and habitat qualities compared to any of the genetically related single-channel forms that have been the aim of the past several decades of river restoration. The paper argued that Stage 0 stream types were common a century or two ago in the Western US, and much earlier in the Eastern US and Europe. Stage 0 examples are seen today where arable conditions are not present, or where the river system is too vast to disrupt yet. Several publications since then support this argument. In river restoration practice, Stage 0 is a new concept that emphasizes the lateral connectivity of biophysical processes at the valley scale, with the goal of restoring primary ecosystem services including water storage, carbon storage, sediment storage, nutrient processing, hyporheic exchanges, and keystone habitat for anadromous salmonids. Several valley-scale example projects in the state of Oregon have been implemented across a broad range of ecoregions. This presentation will include results and insights from two of those projects: Whychus Creek from the dry side of the Cascade Range, and the South Fork of the MacKenzie River, a regulated tailwater reach downstream from a major dam. Stage 0 settings are very difficult to monitor, but modeling indicates that these examples have supplied a ten-fold increase in juvenile salmon rearing habitat and fish responses appear to be tracking.

Bio: Dr. Cluer is a fluvial geomorphologist with 30 years of federal service in river resource management. Before joining the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2000, his focus areas with the US National Park Service included: reregulating major dams in the Colorado River Basin to improve ecosystem functions, and; planning, and monitoring dam removals across the west, most notably the Elwha River dams.
Since joining the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2000 his focus has been divided between planning and implementing several dam removal projects, and improving river restoration science and practice to support the recovery of threatened and endangered salmonids.

18:52 – 19:27 UTC+2
Shoreline Armor Removal Fulfills Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Following Large-Scale Dam Removal: Elwha Nearshore

Anne Shaffer¹, Jamie Michel¹, Dave Parks¹, Kirsten Simonsen¹, Katrina Campbell¹, and Bob Oxborrow^2
1Coastal Watershed Institute
²University of Washington

Abstract: Sediment starvation due to in-river dams has significant impact to coastal hydrodynamic and ecosystem processes. Removal of large-scale dams is assumed to restore these ecosystem processes but nearshore response is poorly understood. In this paper we summarize the coastal ecosystem response to 100 years of shoreline sediment starvation due to large-scale in river dams, and the ecological response along armored and unarmored shorelines when upwards of 10mcm of material was liberated to the coast from the Elwha dam removals. We provide recommendations for nearshore management and restoration actions for future large-scale dam removal to kick off a global celebration of the ten year anniversary of the world’s largest dam removal.

Bio: I’m the Executive Director and Lead Scientist of the Coastal Watershed Institute (CWI), a small, place based environmental non-profit dedicated to understanding, protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems thru community led scientific partnerships.  We conduct world class coastal ecosystem science conservation and restoration with very modest resources and a remote base of operations. Our focus are nearshore response to large scale dam removals and kelp bed ecosystem function for forage fish.

19:41 – 20:06 UTC+2
40 years of investigations on the ecology, migration and conservation of Amazon fishes

Ronaldo Barthem^1
1Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi 

Abstract: The Amazon River discharge accounts for nearly a fifth of global freshwater discharge, and so much water draws attention to its power generation potential. Most of the waterfalls are in the shields of Brazil and Guyana and in the Andes region and a large continuous extension of lowland rivers will not be affected by the hydroelectric plants. The dams affect fish migration differently by species and may have a local impact or even consequences across the entire basin. Understanding fish migrations helps mitigate dam impacts and sustain fisheries along the river

Bio: Ronaldo Barthem is a retired Research at the Emilio Goeldi Museum (MPEG), Belém, Brazil. He has over 40 years of experience working on fish ecology and fisheries in the Amazon basin, from the Amazon estuary to the Andes foothill. He studied the ecology of important commercial fish species, the impact of the industrial and artisanal fishing on the migratory catfish stocks, and the impact of the hydroelectric dam construction on the fish migration. He has supported initiatives of Brazilian governmental agencies for fisheries management and conservation of aquatic biota.

12:10 – 12:40 UTC+2
Developing fish behavioural research in South Africa for management and conservation

Céline Hanzen¹, Gordon O’Brien¹, and Matthew Burnett^1
1Rivers of Life research group at University of KwaZulu Natal & University of Mpumalanga

Abstract: African river systems are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic habitat degradation, fragmentation, pollution, water resource mismanagement, and over-exploitation. These multiples stressors put the ecosystems and associated fauna and flora at risk, particularly for migratory fish species. Meeting the ecological reserve is a serious challenge in southern Africa where water scarcity is exacerbated by recurring droughts and growing demands from different users. However, relatively little is known about the migration and movement requirement of native freshwater species in the region. Recently, efforts have been made to close the gap in knowledge by using traditional methods and developing smart telemetry techniques for inland African waters. We summarise  our recent and ongoing research relating to telemetry for management and conservation, connectivity and fish passage issues, and the undervalue of the associate fisheries in South Africa.

Bio: Dr Céline Hanzen is a post-doctoral researcher at the Centre for Functional Biodiversity, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, where she focuses on the conservation and ecology of African freshwater eels. Céline has almost 10 years’ experience in both terrestrial and aquatic ecology and conservation and has worked in different countries in Europe and Africa. As a senior researcher of Rivers of Life, Céline contributes to the implementation of different projects relating to fish migration and river connectivity. Céline’s current research topics include the migratory ecology of African eels and the associated fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean region.

12:52 – 13:27 UTC+2
The future of fish passage in Kenya

Frank Masese^1
1University of Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract: I will present an overview of fish migrations from the Lake Victoria into influent rivers. I will also talk about other river systems and their connectivity with the Indian Ocean. I will then discuss threats migratory fishes face, including barriers (dams and weirs), reduced water levels., organic pollution and overfishing. I will also discuss the importance of maintaining the natural flow regimes of rivers for fish passage in Kenya, especially given growing urbanization and loading of organic matter and nutrients from urban areas and increasing numbers of livestock and people.   I will end by discussing the future of fish passage in Kenya and some management options necessary for maintaining fish populations and overall health of streams and rivers.

Bio: Dr. Masese is an aquatic ecologist whose work broadly encompasses ecosystem ecology and biodiversity conservation. His studies straddle the terrestrial-aquatic domain as he seeks to understand how landscape variables shape the composition of aquatic communities (mainly invertebrates and fishes), food webs and nutrient cycling. His research draws on multiple disciplines to understand and mitigate environmental problems and inform environmental and biodiversity conservation and management. Currently Dr. Masese is a senior lecturer and head of Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Eldoret. Dr. Masese holds (2015) from Wageningen University and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, the Netherlands. He was a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019) at the Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany.

13:41 – 14:06 UTC+2
The Global Swimways Project

Joshua Royte^1
1The Nature Conservancy

Abstract: The Living Planet Index for Migratory Freshwater Fish is a warning call for our planets rivers, yet our waters still hold great mystery. The Global Swimways Project of the World Fish Migration Foundation hopes to clear these waters by creating data and transferring knowledge to and from a growing network of academics, agencies, NGOs, watershed and angling groups. The goal is to create a better database of global fish migration and free-flowing habitats. This in turn informs and inspires action on behalf of migratory fish while we connect people to data to guide river protection and restoration.

Bio: Joshua Royte is a Senior Conservation Scientist for The Nature Conservancy in Maine, part of a global non-profit dedicated to preserving the planet’s biodiversity. He brings science to strategic planning and the prioritization of projects for land and freshwater conservation and restoration in Maine and assisting our European rivers team and global outreach for free-flowing rivers.

15:10 – 15:40 UTC+2
The future of fish passage & conservation

Paul Kemp^1
1University of Southampton

Abstract: Fresh waters are among the most degraded ecosystems on earth and freshwater fish may be the most threatened of all vertebrates. Cursed with the legacy of a long history of exploitation, European rivers are heavily modified and fragmented due to a high density of anthropogenic river infrastructure (e.g. dams and weirs), the majority of which are relatively small (less than 2m) and a large proportion redundant. Current progressive modelling approaches, new paradigms in environmental impact mitigation technology (e.g. marginal gains concept), and greater societal environmental awareness (e.g. the dam removal movement) provides opportunities to advance sustainable river management. This can be better achieved by minimising environmental impacts in a cost-effective manner at multiple stages during the whole lifespan of river infrastructure, from planning through construction and operation to decommissioning. 

Bio: Paul Kemp is a Professor of Ecological Engineering and director of the International Centre for Ecohydraulics Research at University of Southampton. His research focuses on the application of behavioural ecology to understanding and solving challenges in water and energy engineering, particularly how the physical environment (e.g. hydrodynamics and acoustics) influence the behaviour and physiological performance of fish, and how manipulation of that environment by engineering means can be used to mitigate for negative impacts of water and energy resource development. Specific applications include fish pass and screening design, assigning compensation flow regimes, and improving habitat restoration strategies. 

15:52 – 16:27 UTC+2
Fish locomotion and Hydropower: a conservation approach

Ana T Silva^1
1NINA

Abstract: Fish movement is a complex phenomenon that results from the interplay between fish and the surrounding environment. Worldwide rivers are fragmented by human-made structures that interfere with natural flows, disrupt fish behaviour, and compromise fish population sustainability. Understanding interaction of fish with naturally and anthropogenically driven changes of water movement is imperative for the development of solutions that facilitate fish free migratory movements. This is especially timely and important given the fast growth of human population and the state of fisheries worldwide. The talk will address the interaction of fish-fluid motion, and its applicability to fish conservation. The first part will introduce some theoretical aspects of fish fluid motion and fish migration. A second part will address examples of how to apply such knowledge to fish conservation and river management. 

Bio: Ana T Silva is a research scientist at NINA in Norway. She holds a PhD in Forestry Engineering (Lisbon). Ana´s research is based on an interdisciplinary approach to fish conservation that draws on the fields of ecology, biomechanics, fish locomotion, eco-hydraulics and fluid dynamics. She is currently leading several international projects focusing on the development of mitigation measures, based on the interplay of fish-fluid motion, for two-way fish migration at regulated rivers. Ana is also the founder of IWISH for fish network, which aims to facilitate the exchange of cultural and traditional knowledge on fish, fisheries and rivers between indigenous people and western scientists, in order to improve fisheries management and conservation of aquatic systems

16:41 – 17:06 UTC+2
Opening Europe’s major Fish Corridors – Needs, Challenges & Approaches

Marq Redeker¹ & Wilco de Bruijne^2
1CDM Smith
²OAK Consultants

Abstract: This presentation outlines three major fish passage restoration projects on Europe’s largest rivers – the Danube, Rhine and Meuse Rivers. All three sites are the most downstream fish migration barriers in their river systems. Opening these obstacles to provide for fish passage are key for the survival/sustainability of diadromous species in particular. The projects represent challenging undertakings that have required different approaches. We will outline:

• River continuity restoration at the Iron Gate I & II Dams (Romania and Serbia), being the downstream “doorway” to the middle and upper Danube River. The ongoing EU-funded project “WePass – Facilitating Fish Migration and Conservation at The Iron Gate” is the preparatory project for a feasibility study and includes migratory fish monitoring and initial engineering works. The feasibility study extending to 04/2024 has recently been commissioned; its objectives are to a) investigate the options to establish up- and downstream fish migration at both Iron Gate Dams, b) carry out preliminary design(s) of the identified preferred fish pass solution(s) to enable detail design of these solutions in a following stage and allow investment and funding decisions to be made.
• The “Fish Migration River” is a unique idea and will allow fish to pass through the Afsluitdijk which dams Lake Ijssel (one of the River Rhine mouths) in the Netherlands. The ca. 4 km long river will allow for a gradual transition between the saline seawater of the Wadden Sea and the freshwater of Lake Ijssel. Construction has begun in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2023.
• The Haringvliet sluices form a barrier between fresh and salt water on the mouths of the Rhine and Meuse Rivers. By slightly opening the Haringvliet sluices (“op een kier”) at high tide, migratory fish can swim with the salt water into the estuary. The “kier” operation protocol started in 2018; monitoring and operational optimization are ongoing.

Bio (Marq Redeker): Marq is a Civil Engineer, specialized in water management and hydraulic engineering, with 25 years international work experience. His special interests include fish passage and river restoration, river & dam engineering and flood risk management. In 2003 Marq completed a post-graduate MBA.

Marq joined CDM Smith in 2016. His responsibilities include provision of technical expertise, feasibility studies, designs and peer reviews.

Marq is the chairman of the German Expert Committee on Fishways, and familiar with and involved in water management strategies and development of best practice guidelines. He’s currently involved in flagship fish passage restoration projects, e.g., at the Iron Gate Dams on the Danube River, the Lower Shannon Scheme in Ireland and the Fish Migration River at the Afsluitdijk of Lake Ijssel in the Netherlands.

Bio (Wilco de Bruijne): Wilco is an aquatic ecologist, specialized in river connectivity, fish migration and estuary restoration measures. He graduated at Wageningen University with a M.Sc. In Hydrology,  Water quality management and Aquatic ecology and has around 12 years of international experiences in these fields of expertise.

Wilco is currently partner / owner of OAK consultants, a small specialized consultancy in ecology, water management and landscaping, he covers the ecology work field. Wilco is often deployed for national and international water authorities and currently working on major fish passage restoration project along the Dutch coast and in the Danube catchment, e.g., the Iron Gate Dams on the Danube River, the Fish Migration River at the Afsluitdijk of Lake Ijssel in the Netherlands and several estuary restoration project in the UNESCO world Heritage site Wadden Sea.

06:10 – 06:40 UTC+2
Hydropower + fish pass = sustainable hydro power: A true story?

Stefan Schmutz^1
1BOKU University

Abstract: Functioning fish passes for upstream fish passage have made hydropower more sustainable, however, sustainable hydropower requires more than (partly) re-establishing upstream fish migration. For example, facilities enabling effective downstream passage are widely lacking for multiple spawners and juveniles and solutions for large rivers are imperfect or missing. Furthermore, the importance of fish migration in relation to other requirements such as habitat availability and the role of fish migration in population dynamics is unknown for many species. Mitigating hydropower impacts must involve besides connectivity the consideration of flow, sediment transport and water quality. Protecting sensitive species requires maintaining undammed rivers or river sections. Sustainable hydropower calls for integration of these aspects in order to guarantee long-term survival and wellbeing of fish communities in multi-stressed ecosystems. These findings are supported by examples from Austria, the Danube and the Mekong.

Bio: Stefan Schmutz is a professor at the Univ. of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, experienced in running water ecology, fish ecology and river basin management. His special fields of interest are assessment of human impacts, mitigation measures and river restoration. His particular focus is on hydropower-environment nexus including environmental flow, hydro peaking, connectivity disruption and fish pass technologies.

He has coordinated more than 50 projects at national, European and international level. Recent projects were dealing with the protection and rehabilitation of large rivers such as the Danube and the Mekong. In this context he assesses the efficiency of fish passes, investigates new fish pass technologies, and develops planning tools for prioritisation of continuity restoration at large scale. Working closely with hydropower companies, administration and NGOs is part of his daily life. His research activities aim at a more environmental friendly management of running waters including sustainable hydropower. 

06:52 – 07:27 UTC+2

Tracking the Golden Mahseer in Bhutan

Karma Wangchuk^1
1National Research & Development Centre For Riverine & Lake Fisheries, Bhutan

Abstract: The talk provides a synthesis of work that has been conducted on tracking the migration of the iconic Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) in Bhutan using radio telemetry. This presentation will highlight key findings and offer insight on the movement patterns of Golden Mahseer in Bhutan, information that wasn’t available until recently.  This talk will also emphasize the need for long-term conservation strategies and how these research findings can provide a framework for conservation and management plans for Golden Mahseer, other migratory fish, and aquatic ecosystem in general, particularly in light of the impacts from anthropogenic activities.

Bio: Karma Wangchuk (Mr). A fish biologist by training/profession, I work at the National Research & Development Centre for Riverine & Lake Fisheries, under the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture & Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Fishery Science (Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, India) and a Master’s in Evolutionary Biology & Conservation Genetics (University of Arkansas, USA). I have over nine years of experience working in fisheries development, management and conservation activities in Bhutan.

07:41 – 08:06 UTC+2
Changing the policy landscape for fish passage management in New Zealand: successes, lessons learnt and future challenges

Paul Franklin^1
1National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

Abstract: Clear policy direction is a crucial foundation for successful fish passage management. New Zealand has recently established National Environmental Standards to protect fish passage at new instream structures and set a new national policy direction for the protection and restoration of river connectivity. I will reflect on this success for fish passage management in New Zealand and share some of our valuable lessons in building a legitimate and credible pathway to effecting change in both policy and the standing of fish passage in the wider consciousness and actions of key stakeholders.

Bio: Paul is a freshwater fish ecologist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand. After beginning his journey in the UK, he has spent the last thirteen years getting to know New Zealand’s unique fish fauna and the challenges they face. Paul leads New Zealand’s fish passage research and has worked closely with stakeholders to develop national guidance on fish passage management and tools for the assessment of fish passage barriers.