Regulated Rivers Research Programme

The goal of the Regulated Rivers Research Programme is to produce applicable research information on regulated rivers to develop their fisheries and to promote sustainable use of their migratory fish populations.

Photo: Pekka Hyvärinen

Finland has about 159 000 kilometers of rivers, of which more than 90 % are regulated or otherwise modified. Among other things, construction of hydroelectric power plants and dams, water regulation and flood control, dredging, clearing of river beds for log floating, and ditching have altered the natural state of these river systems.

The biological communities of modified rivers are not equivalent to communities of natural rivers. Thus, changes of river systems must be taken into account in the management of riverine fish populations in modified river systems. Some of these environmental changes may permanently inhibit the functioning of the rivers, but some can be influenced through management and restoration measures. The choice of measures usually comes down to optimizing the balance between nature and human activities.

The Regulated Rivers Research Programme will be conducted in 2011-2016. The intent is to focus research on the current and most significant challenges in the management of fish populations in modified rivers. In addition to biological know-how the programme will utilize a wide eco-technical and socio-economic perspective. The main themes of the Regulated Rivers Research Programme are:

• Fishways and restoration of migratory fish populations
• The effects of river restoration and watershed land use on fish populations
• The social, economic and cultural preconditions of migratory fish restoration

Further information:

Aki Mäki-Petäys, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute

Timo P. Karjalainen, (socio-economic projects), Thule Institute, University of Oulu

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