PIT-tag marking of salmon smolts will be done in the project.
PIT-tag marking of salmon smolts will be done in the project.

Tracking fish movement patterns in Improve Aquatic LIFE

Within the Improve Aquatic LIFE project, a comprehensive study of fish migration using Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) tags is being carried out. The aim of the study is to better understand how migratory fish species are affected by river restoration measures. By tracking fish movements, we can evaluate the impact of measures such as removing migration barriers, restoring natural stream habitats and improving water quality.

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The target species in the project include river pearl mussels and salmon. Photo Nicka Hellenberg.
The target species in the project include river pearl mussels and salmon. Photo Nicka Hellenberg.

Europe’s largest water conservation project

Improve Aquatic LIFE is the name of one of Europe’s largest water conservation projects to restore aquatic environments and carry out measures in lakes, rivers and coastal waters in nine different counties, mainly in southern Sweden.

Improve Aquatic LIFE is funded by the EU, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, among others.

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Skälderviken in Skåne with stones in the foreground illustrating that stones from the coast have been removed by 'stone fishing' and the stone reefs need to be restored to bring back the habitats that have disappeared.
Stone reefs to be rebuilt on the coast

Themes for improvement

In Improve Aquatic LIFE we work in different themes. These are improving connectivity in watercourses, improving habitats in watercourses and coastal areas, improving the hydrological regime by restoring the water-holding capacity of the landscape and improving conditions for our target species salmon, sea lamprey, thick-shelled mussel and river pearl mussel. For each theme, we have a theme coordinator who, among other things, will ensure that we take advantage of the results and experiences we gain within the project by documenting the learning.

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400 million for nature conservation

The County Administrative Board of Skåne is receiving EU support to launch Europe’s largest water restoration project. Almost SEK 400 million will be invested in improving aquatic environments, reducing the effects of climate change and strengthening threatened fish and mussel populations in southern Sweden, where watercourses, wetlands and coastal waters will be restored.

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