This publication has  been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Baltic Fund for Nature and can in no way be taken to reflect the views  of the European Union.

"Influence of dam and turbines of Narva hydropower station on the migration of European eel from Lake Peipsi basin”

Estonian University of Life Sciences
Baltic Fund for Nature

Contract number of the project: 2006/131-966

project is funded by the European Union within the framework EU-Russia Neighbourhood Programme BSR III B – INTERREG III A Priority North – Tacis joint project

The project is implemented under co-operation agreement between Estonian University of Life Sciences and Baltic Fund for Nature

Lead Partner and Project Manager:
Estonian University of Life Sciences;
Andres Koppel, Vice-Rector
Kreutzwaldi 64 Tartu 51014 Estonia

Project co-ordinators:

Ain Järvalt (EULS)

Sergey Titov (BFN)

Project implementation period: January 2007 – December 2007

Project objectives:

- The overall objective of this project is to investigate the migration potential and alternatives of eel from Lake Peipsi basin to the Baltic Sea. The far-reaching objective is to enhance and achieve a recovery of the spawning stock and recruitment of European eel.
The following sub-objectives will contribute to the general objective: - to evaluate the construction of dam and fish passes according to the present-day requirements (ERDF and Tacis part); - recommendations for building or reconstruction of fish passes (ERDF and Tacis); - investigation of silver eel downstream migration (ERDF and Tacis); - assessment of ecological status of Lake Peipsi and nutrient outflow through Narva River to Baltic Sea using MONERIS model (ERDF and Tacis).
Despite that the Narva River is the biggiest river in region, there was no permanent monitoring up to now. MONERIS is one of the best methods for the estimation of nutrient balance of inland waterbodies. All this activities are based on regional co-operation and data exchange.

Project activities:

Expert evaluation of the state of the dam and fish-passes
Control fykenet fishing of eel on Narva river
Radiotagging and radiotelemetric control of eel in Narva river
elaboration of recommendations for reconstruction of fish passes
Data analysis on ecological status of Lake Peipsi and nutrient outflow through Narva River to Baltic Sea using MONERIS model

Project results:

1 training meeting in Estonia and 1 training meeting in Russia, field works and inventories by experts.
1 public seminar for local fishermen, stakeholders, specialists and research workers.
assessment and inventory reports are completed on the following topics: the silver eel downstream migration from Lake Peipsi to the lower part of Narva River through the dam of Narva Hydropower Station; the ecological status of Lake Peipsi and nutrient outflow through Narva River to Baltic Sea using MONERIS model.
evaluation of construction of dam and fish passes according to the present-day environment requirements and elaboration of recommendations for reconstruction of fish passes ( it is recommended to construct a new one).
2 publications: 1 newspaper article and 1 booklet.
cooperation efforts via project activities are developed; know-how is improved by experience exchange between people from different countries and scientific organizations. Thus, professional standards of staff of institutions and organisations related to fishing management and biodiversity conservation are improved.

A strong ground for the cross-border cooperation between researchers, local fishermen, NGO-s, environmental managers and local authorities is formed. Most valuable are the contacts between the researchers and local fishermen dealing with monitoring and use of joint fish resources on both sides of Narva River and Lake Peipsi - development of joint methodologies and exchange of research and catch data received a good kick-off within the current project activities. The involvement of local authorities into the discussion rounds for the future of Estonian-Russian cross-border cooperation cannot be underestimated. The project results revealed the necessity to establish national European Eel management plan in Russia and allowed the researchers to concentrate on most important issues for developing a joint action plan.

The project has evidently improved the understanding of the modern status and future of European Eel protection in Russia. The necessity of national European Eel management plan establishment in Russia became obvious. The current problems and differences of European Eel management and conservation in Russia and Estonia became clearer. Exchange of experiences and know-how between the project partners was very useful. Re-establishing of co-operation of Estonian and Russian scientific experts/ichthyologists and local fishermen (which was almost broken after the crash of the Soviet Union) is especially important. A great interest in the project was shown by the local population, in particular, the fishermen. One of the indications of feedback from these groups was the information on the tagged eels caught in the Narva River provided by the fishermen to the project experts.

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This project is funded by the European Union
 

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