Return salmonid to Baltic small rivers

2019 - 2023

The project aims to address the problem of excessive regulation of small Baltic rivers and therefore hindrances to migratory species, by applying best available practices for mitigation of migratory barriers in the pilot case and prioritising other rivers and dams for further action.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

Wild Baltic salmon and sea trout, listed as Vulnerable under HELCOM, need healthy river systems for migration and spawning during their life cycle. The Baltic river ecosystems have been dammed for water supply, mills or power generation. The conservation issues on dammed rivers are well documented, with inadequate tangible progress to remove or bypass these dams for salmonid migration in eastern BSR countries.

The geographic scope of the project will cover the whole Eastern Baltic coast and basin, but focus on pilot bypassing a dam in the Stracha river in Belarus, built in the 1950s-60s near Olkhovka village, a location already evaluated as beneficial for salmonid recovery. Through further evaluations with partner organizations the project will develop strategies for implementing dam bypass or removal in other river systems in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia.

THE PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL

Why this project is needed?

The goal of the project is to launch the restoration of Baltic salmonid population in small Baltic Sea rivers, by generating and sharing knowledge on best cases and practices on migration barriers’ mitigation, including the construction of a pilot fauna passage fishway on Stracha river (Belarus).

How the project is implemented?

It will be achieved through:

the launch of the salmonid population restoration programme on Stracha river (Belarus): construct efficient fish way/fauna passage for up and downstream migration.
the launch of a salmonid migration barriers mitigation programme in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia with the purpose to remove barriers/dams or establish fishways in small rivers in the near future. This will include:

Generating knowledge and examples of best practices and methods for migration barriers mitigation, globally and regionally;
Initiating a knowledge exchange/learning for future actions within the Baltic Sea region.
CCB’s ambition is to gather and improve knowledge and share it with gained relevant authorities, decision makers and media to get support for future actions; and
Production and presentation of a list of Priorities on migration barriers mitigation, including proposals for specific actions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia; to be used for discussions with relevant national authorities and stakeholders for actions on mitigation measures, including what potential financing to be used.