Good fish migration news from the Netherlands

This video from the Netherlands says about itself:

The fish migration river. Afsluitdijk, The Netherlands

3 February 2014

This video shows how the fish migration river Afsluitdijk works. A unique concept that will enable fish to migrate from the Wadden Sea to the IJsselmeer and back while preventing salt water to enter the freshwater basin.

The construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 resulted in an ecological disaster for the Wadden Sea and the Zuiderzee. The Zuiderzee’s mix of brackish and salt water became purely fresh water. The tide disappeared. And also the migratory fish species suddenly found the route to their Zuiderzee spawning grounds blocked. These fish species used to mate in the brackish water of the Zuiderzee. After the Afsluitdijk was constructed their populations collapsed.

The Directorate of Public Works and Water Management is now planning major maintenance works for the Afsluitdijk, starting in 2016. The dike will be strengthened and reinforced. Regional stakeholders are seizing this opportunity to put forward this plan for the restoration of the ecological balance. And, at the same time, to improve the quality of nature reserves and recreational areas.

No other country has anything like this fish migration river, although about 200 comparable situations exist throughout the world. By investing now in further development of the fish migration river, the Dutch water management sector will acquire unique expertise. This expertise can then be converted into a new export product.

Therefore, the fish migration river also has international potential.

Translated from daily De Volkskrant in the Netherlands:

Afsluitdijk fish corridor a success

The IJsselmeer lake is teeming with young glass eels. A sign that the fish-friendly policies are working. There is even a kind of disco for fishes.

By René Didde

June 17, 2015, 02:00

Ten thousands of tiny young eels and smelt can now effortlessly pass the Afsluitdijk which used to be an impossible obstacle until recently, recent figures by Dutch water management authorities show. … Blinking underwater lights help the fish to find the right way.

In 2014, 26 fish species were counted which now managed to cross the Afsluitdijk because of the new policy.

Bad Dutch eel news: here.