Fishway monitoring can assess the functionality of fishways, and the obligation to monitor functionality is almost invariably included in the water permits for fishways. We conduct monitoring with long experience using fishway counters, such as Vaki Riverwatcher infrared technique-based fish counters and Hydrocam underwater camera systems. If necessary, we handle the entire monitoring process from planning to implementation.
Considering the behavioural perspective in fishway design is important and requires solid fish biology expertise. When a behavioural expert is involved in the design phase of the fishway, risks of functional deficiencies being revealed after the fishway is taken into use can be minimized. This can achieve significant time and cost savings. Fish and Water Research Ltd. has the capability to implement fishway design projects in collaboration with our partners, including the technical design of the fishway.
Featured Project
Monitoring Fishways at Kuhankoski
Fish and Water Research Ltd. conducts fishway monitoring at Koskienergia Ltd.’s Kuhankoski power plant. The functionality of the fishways has been monitored since 2021 using Vaki Riverwatcher fish counters. The first fishway was built at Kuhankoski already in the 1920s. The original wooden step-pass was replaced by the current two-branch vertical slot pass in 1992. In spring 2023, a new nature-like fishway was completed at Kuhankoski in conjunction with the construction of a new power station building.
Monitoring of the fishways has been carried out since 2021 in the old fishway and since 2023 in the new fishway with the help of two fish counters. The monitoring period has lasted annually from April-May to October-November. During this time, the numbers of species passing through the counter, the timing of observations in relation to environmental factors, and the lengths of trout observed in the fishway have been recorded. Reports have been submitted annually to the client and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southwest Finland.
