Background
Trap and transport systems enable efficient and safe transporting of the salmonids to the spawning areas behind several dams. The fish born in the upstream areas of the river are likely to return to the same river for spawning and sustain the natural life cycle of migrating fish.
Trap and transport in Sweden
In river Klarälven in Sweden, salmon have to pass eight hydropower plants before reaching the spawning areas, and cumulative losses and delays for salmon passing the hydropower plants by fishways would not result in a large enough number of fish reaching the spawning grounds to sustain the wild salmon population. This is why the natural smolt production in the Klarälven River has been sustained via an active trap and transport of spawning fish since the 1930s. Fish are collected in a fish trap at the lowermost dam (Forshaga) and transported by truck to the spawning areas some 100 kilometers upstream past the hydropower plants.
Trap and transport in Finland
In Finland, in river Oulujoki, there is a fish trap at the Montta hydropower plant, which is the second power plant from the sea. The salmon and trout trapped at Montta are transported over several dams to the restored spawning areas in tributaries. Montta fish trap also helps us study fish behaviour and gain knowledge for future fish migration projects.
Our approach
Fortum believes in strengthening the natural life cycle of migrating fish in constructed and regulated rivers like the Klarälven and the Oulujoki. Strengthening the salmon populations requires several supporting measures and a step-by-step process with the best available knowledge and technology in fish migration. The same solutions cannot be applied everywhere since each river is unique and requires a tailored approach.