Event Title

Session D6: Restoration of the Haringvliet

Location

Groningen, The Netherlands

Event Website

http://fishpassage.umass.edu/

Start Date

23-6-2015 5:00 PM

End Date

23-6-2015 5:15 PM

Description

Abstract:

The Haringvliet estuary, just south of Rotterdam, used to connect the North Sea to the Rhine and Meuse rivers, until it was closed for water safety reasons by the Haringvliet dam in 1970. With the closure, the dynamic tidal ecosystem turned into a stagnant freshwater lake. Fish such as salmon and eel could no longer move between river and sea and largely disappeared from the rivers. In 2011 the Dutch government approved a plan to open partly the sluices in the Haringvliet dam to allow salt water to enter a part of the estuary and open up a route for migratory fish to reach their spawning grounds upstream. When this happens in 2018, matters will improve for fish migration. However, much more effort is needed to restore the natural estuarine dynamics and bring back life, ecological and economical, to the delta. January 2015, WWF-Netherlands, Natuurmonumenten, Sportvisserij Nederland, ARK Natuurontwikkeling, Staatbosbeheer and Vogelbescherming Nederland were awarded a 13.5 million Euro grant by the Dutch Post Code Lottery to realise an ambitious restoration of the tidal landscape of the Haringvliet. The programme will aim for restoring the tidal landscape of channels, shoals and sandbanks to host salmon and trout, as well as dolphins, porpoises and water birds. Special attention is given to the European sturgeon, which disappeared from the rivers as a result of pollution and overfishing. A rearing station and reintroduction programme will bring back this majestic fish. There will be special attention to reducing the threats of professional fisheries in the Haringvliet estuary and around the dam in specific. Options are to change to different fishing methodologies and to develop fish free zones around the dam. The Haringvliet delta is not only in need of an ecological boost, but also an economic one. Public access to restored nature is part of the wider plan. This approach will provide lots of opportunity for sustainable economic development in the region.

Comments

Presenting Author Bio: Esther Blom is an ecologist and works for WWF-NL since 10 years. She works on projects both in the Netherlands as well as internationally, e.g. in China.

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Jun 23rd, 5:00 PM Jun 23rd, 5:15 PM

Session D6: Restoration of the Haringvliet

Groningen, The Netherlands

Abstract:

The Haringvliet estuary, just south of Rotterdam, used to connect the North Sea to the Rhine and Meuse rivers, until it was closed for water safety reasons by the Haringvliet dam in 1970. With the closure, the dynamic tidal ecosystem turned into a stagnant freshwater lake. Fish such as salmon and eel could no longer move between river and sea and largely disappeared from the rivers. In 2011 the Dutch government approved a plan to open partly the sluices in the Haringvliet dam to allow salt water to enter a part of the estuary and open up a route for migratory fish to reach their spawning grounds upstream. When this happens in 2018, matters will improve for fish migration. However, much more effort is needed to restore the natural estuarine dynamics and bring back life, ecological and economical, to the delta. January 2015, WWF-Netherlands, Natuurmonumenten, Sportvisserij Nederland, ARK Natuurontwikkeling, Staatbosbeheer and Vogelbescherming Nederland were awarded a 13.5 million Euro grant by the Dutch Post Code Lottery to realise an ambitious restoration of the tidal landscape of the Haringvliet. The programme will aim for restoring the tidal landscape of channels, shoals and sandbanks to host salmon and trout, as well as dolphins, porpoises and water birds. Special attention is given to the European sturgeon, which disappeared from the rivers as a result of pollution and overfishing. A rearing station and reintroduction programme will bring back this majestic fish. There will be special attention to reducing the threats of professional fisheries in the Haringvliet estuary and around the dam in specific. Options are to change to different fishing methodologies and to develop fish free zones around the dam. The Haringvliet delta is not only in need of an ecological boost, but also an economic one. Public access to restored nature is part of the wider plan. This approach will provide lots of opportunity for sustainable economic development in the region.

https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2015/June23/39