EEL: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE. WFD Coordinator Fish Peter Philipsen, M.Sc. Nature at Work

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1 EEL: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE From Rhine Delta Roadmap for Fish Migration* Towards an European Eel Recovery Strategy WFD Coordinator Fish Peter Philipsen, M.Sc. Nature at Work * EU INBO: Best practice in applying the EU concept of ecological flow European Eel our flagship species Eel Conference, Peterborough, november

2 1. European roadmap for Eel recovery (Peter Philipsen, Rhine West River Basin) 2. Connecting rivers and wetlands... and more (Frank Hoffman, Wetlands International) 3. Glass Eel monitoring by volunteers (Martijn Schiphouwer) 4. Dutch implementation techniques (Tim Pelsma, Amsterdam Waterboard) European Eel our flagship species Eel Conference, Peterborough, november

3 SESSION 2: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE Few open connections to the sea Below sea level: many pumping stations HOLLAND, A FOUR RIVER DELTA WITH: MANY DIKES, PUMPS, WEIRS & SLUICES

4 SESSION 2: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE RHINE-WEST 3 OPEN CONNECTIONS TO SEA: The North Sea canal (Martijn, Tim) The Haringvliet (Peter) The Nieuwe Waterweg (Peter,Martijn)

5 Aalsmeer = Eel lake (now a city) Coat of Arms or the city of Aalsmeer: a Dutch lion holding a slippery Eel

6 The Rhine-West region challenge

7 Rhine-West region challenge Below sea level, water to be pumped out Main EU gateway; ships (harbors) and fish Habitat fragmentation: 520 WFD barriers Loss of connectivity; sharp decline in migratory fish stocks, esp. Anguilla anguilla (IUCN red list - critically endangered) Target opening up migratory routes instead of lifting single barriers (strategic choices) Succesful joint approach: Roadmap for fish

8 Rhine-West Roadmap PRESENTATION OUTLINE 1. Rhine-West roadmap method & results 2. Accesibility maps 3. Joint Monitoring program 4. Regional partnership NWW & Haringvliet 5. Complementing Rhine Co. Masterplan 6. Severn & Thames Eel Roadmap 7. Towards European Eel Recovery Strategy

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10 Learn more about the ROADMAP FOR FISH via the RIJNWEST youtube channel (now 4 minute short version, 12 minutes full movie)

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12 Roadmap for fish migration methodology cooperation of all water authorities Policymakers, ecologists, technicians- at local level Working with the science community & anglers, strong knowledge base Develop joint vision on fish migration (ecological role region within river basin) Use WFD barriers database Design roadmap (highways, A- and B- roads) Make a catchment GIS Use local expert knowledge (fish behavior, pumps & sluices) = Key to success Prioritize barriers & design cost-effective measures

13 Roadmap for fish migration prioritizing method: Detailed roadmap Highway waters (blue) A - roads (red) B - roads, local (yellow) Top30 priorities (mainly at junctions highways and regional waters) Program of Measures

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17 Joint Rhine-West monitoring program Instead monitoring at single barriers the focus is on migratory routes Using combination of pit tags (regional waters) and NEDAP (national waters) Monitoring routes by looking at percentage of silver Eel escapement at various fish passes Further research into correlation between fish passes and increased stocks

18 Nieuwe Waterweg partnership Nieuwe Waterweg partnership in cooperation with North Sea canal partnership Eel monitoring by volunteers, anglers WFD monitoring data used to prioritize and make Program of Measures Building with Nature; e.g. design riparian zones near fish passes as shelters in high dynamic system or glass eel & other fish

19 Rhine-West Roadmap anticipates opening HV In 2018 the Haringvliet Sluices will be partially opened to allow fish like Salmon and Eel to migrate up- and downstream

20 Opening Haringvliet and national lotery funds WWF Connecting Zuiderdiep = regional water (high #glaseel already!) The Rhine-West roadmap ANTICIPATES the opening of the Haringvliet in 2018

21 Fish Migration River: Roadmap for IJssel The Fish Migration River is an innovative 4.5 miles fish pass cut through the 20 miles Afsluitdijk that allows migratory fish to make the transation from salt to fresh water.

22 = Free Eel migration (highways) = Eel migration blocked (regional waters) Connecting Zuiderdiep = regional water Complements Masterplan Migratory Fish (ICPR): Salmon and Eel MMF states that Eel migration is blocked throughout the Rhine river basin (ICPR, 2012) But especially in the Rhine Delta (see purple lines in figure to the left) Natural focus ICPR is on Rhine river basin as a whole and on Salmon Roadmap complements Masterplan Natural focus Rhine-Delta is on Eel Roadmap provides a prioritizing method for Eel barriers, solving problems where the need is greatest: Rhine delta + connecting regional waters Solving downstream migration is key

23 Thames Eel Roadmap initiative Thames Estuary Partnership, Nature at Work, Environment Agency, Thames Water, Zoological Society London, Sustainable Eel Group Joint vision and analysis waters (roads) Analyzing all barriers to Eel migration Targeting priority barriers Eel monitoring by volunteers, public participation

24 Eel Roadmap initiatives in the UK Environment Agency Bristol Water Sustainable Eel Group Rivers Trust Tidal Lagoon Power Nature at Work Environment Agency Thames Water Zoological Society London Thames Estuary Partnership Sustainable Eel Group Nature at Work Severn estuary Thames estuary

25 Why move towards European Eel Roadmap Eel historically important to European Delta communities Source of food, work & recreation Inspiration to science and general public Eel might play a key ecological role in keeping our rivers healthy and clean WFD and Eel Directive (national EMPs) provide insight in barriers and habitats

26 SESSION 2: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (NLs) From small (regional): To grand (EU): To greater (national):

27 SESSION 2: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (UK) From small (regional): To grand (EU): To greater (national):

28 What is needed for Eel Recovery Strategy Scientists, Water Authorities, NGOs and Commerce working together Countries learn from eachother strengths Combination of 1) Science; 2) roadmap/ lifting barriers; 3) regulating sustainable fisheries & illegal trade; 4) EU strategy Organization(s) to take the lead in developing Strategy towards EU

29 Literature International Committee for Protection of the Rhine, Masterplan Migratory Fish (in Dutch). Masterplan Trekvissen. Rapport 179. nl Ehrlich, P. et al, Accelerated modern human induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction. Science Advances 19 Jun 2015: Vol. 1, no. 5, e Dekker, W., et al., Worldwide decline of eel resources necessitates immediate action. Québec Declaration of Concern. Fisheries 28(12): Dekker, W., and J. M. Casselman, The 2003 Québec Declaration of Concern About Eel Declines 11 Years Later: Are Eels Climbing Back up the Slippery Slope? Fisheries 39(12):