From May 1, all recreational fishing for eel is prohibited in River Rönne å. The ban applies to the entire stretch from Ringsjöarna down to the mouth of the sea at Ängelholm.
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (HaV) announces that it will now be forbidden to fish for eel in River Rönne å – an area that has so far been the exception from the general ban on recreational fishing for eels, but this is now changing as new measures allow the eel to migrate freely. The municipality of Klippan has bought and closed three hydropower plants in the municipality, opening up a ten-mile long free migration route in River Rönne å.
… new measures allow eels to migrate freely.
More eels reaching the Sargasso Sea
With the removal of previous migration barriers, spawning silver eels can now reach the sea without risking injury from power plant turbines. This means that more eels raised in River Rönne å have a chance to reach their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea.
The fishing ban is intended to help strengthen the threatened stock of European eel, which has been declining sharply in numbers for a long time. SwAM therefore conclude that there are no longer sufficient reasons to make exceptions to the ban of recreational fishing for eels in River Rönne å.
Paddling in River Rönne å. Photo: Karin Olsson
Ongoing projects in River Rönne å
River Rönne å is one of southern Sweden’s most valuable watercourses for fish species such as salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey and the European eel mentioned above. The river also has weak populations of freshwater pearl mussels and thick-shelled river mussels. In addition, the area is rich in birds such as grey wagtail, kingfishers and white-troated dipper – and there are bats and otters.
The demolition of the hydropower plants will take place within the LIFE CONNECTS project and the river will be opened up to migratory fish species and that the natural sediment transport will be restored. Within Improve Aquatic LIFE, habitats for species such as sea lamprey and river lamprey will be restored and the riparian zone will be reactivated giving better water quality and resilience to climate change. Overall, the project’s various restoration actions will benefit many species in the river ecosystem.