Functional fish habitats in hydropower reservoirs
Informations
- Funding country
Norway- Acronym
- -
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 1/1/2023
- End date
- 12/31/2027
- Budget
- 1,639,713 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENERGIX - Large-scale programme on energy | Grant | - | - | 1,639,713 EUR |
Abstract
In FunkyFish we will investigate suitable habitats for fish populations that spawn in hydropower reservoirs and suggest a sampling protocol for how to map such recruitment habitats in a cost-efficient manner. Traditionally, when fish populations in reservoirs are negatively affected by hydropower production, stocking with juvenile fish from hatchery facilities has been used to compensate for reduced fish biomass. However, according to modern guidelines in Norway, stocking is only to be used when natural fish recruitment is permanently lost. If not lost, environmental legislation requires that habitat measures that support natural reproduction should be implemented. It is, however, often difficult to evaluate whether lack of suitable recruitment habitat is the limiting factor for the fish recruitment, or if other issues like lack of food or increased competition is the reason for reduced fish biomass. The main reason for this is that identifying spawning sites may be logistically challenging, particularly in deeper lake areas. Given the high number and often large sizes of Norwegian hydropower reservoirs, it is not realistically possible for hydropower companies to perform detailed habitat mapping in all reservoirs. Therefore, FunkyFish aims to develop a better system for identifying recruitment habitats in reservoirs. In the project, we will focus on brown trout and Arctic char, the two most commonly occurring fish species in Norwegian reservoirs. We will study several case reservoirs in detail and use different field methods to map habitat qualities and fish habitat use, to identify which field methods are most efficient. Based on this, we will create a sampling protocol that can aid power producers and environmental managers in mapping recruitment habitats in hydropower reservoirs. Moreover, we will suggest potential habitat measures that can improve fish recruitment.