The ProtectFish project aims to evaluate the efficiency of various protection measures to safeguard river fish species across Europe, such as Grayling, Marbled Trout, and Salmon. Our project uses innovative research methods, such as the installation of wildlife cameras covering rivers with nets or ropes or scaring off predators. This allows our project partners to monitor river stretches and gather real-time data on fish populations and their habitats.
Monitoring EU rivers on a daily basis – an important part of our research
The ProtectFish project analyses selected river stretches, under guidance of University of Koblenz & BOKU University – Work Package 3 & 4 leaders. Wildlife cameras have been installed in 5 different river stretches across Europe. Every 3 minutes, a picture of the selected river stretch is taken by those cameras. Via this method, it will be analysed whether an “overnetting” of vulnerable fish habitats could lead to a recovery of fish stocks, writes University of Koblenz.
These actions will provide the best possible overview of the status and trends in cormorant numbers, their distribution throughout the European Union and wildlife behaviour in different settings.
Live monitoring of rivers – an important lifeline for research despite logistical challenges
With the installation of wildlife cameras in river stretches all around Europe, the ProtectFish partners will have a better view of the real-time situation. These visuals will help to monitor and study management options to improve the recovery of endangered river fish species too.
Some challenges remain in the processing of all this data. The image (below) from Aarhus University shows four computers running simultaneously to process the visuals received from the cameras. Next, the data will be analyzed – sometimes using AI tools.
A case study – the old arm Stein-Wingert of the river Nister (Germany)
The Nister is a small river in the German region Westerwald* with a total length of 63.8 kilometres. It rises on the Fuchskaute and flows into the Sieg near Wissen.
With 23 fish species (, some of which are threatened with extinction and listed in the Habitats Directive, as well as stocks of brook and freshwater pearl mussels,) the Nister was a jewel among the waters of the low mountain ranges until 1997/98. Typical representatives of the local fish fauna were, in addition to grayling, salmon and trout, barbel, chub, hazel, roach and nase. (Source)
Project partner University of Koblenz writes that “Large-scale studies on the Nister showed the importance of the nose for the quality of the low mountain rivers. To protect the nasal populations on the Nister, an experimental setup (under the ProtectFish project’s framework) will be tested in autumn/winter 2024 to reduce the entry (in this specific river section) of the cormorant. For this purpose, the Nister is spanned with thin ropes over a distance of about 600 m.”
Also, “In addition, the Stein-Wingert oxbow, into which the noses retreat in winter, is covered with a coarse-meshed net. This is to protect the winter quarters of the noses from cormorant damage. Trail cameras are installed to provide an estimate of predation pressure. In a case study, the material from the cameras is analysed and compared with data collected in the course of previous projects”. (Source)
Based upon on the data retrieved from this case study, the success of the netting is assessed and measures for management will be discussed during the project’s course.
*The Westerwald region is a low mountain range on the right bank of the river Rhine in the German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.
More information
More information on our work in the different Work Packages can be found here
Explanation of the netting in of rivers by our partner University of Koblenz
More information on the Nister river
An overview of our project consortium composition
Media contact for any further information – Aliénor: protectfish@alienor.eu