PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The objective of the project is to restore the ecosystem of the Rhine in order to allow the return and the conservation of fish species which have disappeared from the Rhine. These are, above all, the long-distance migratory fish species like salmon, sea trout, alewife, and sturgeon. Their return requires to consider the whole river ecosystem, from the source to the estuary. In the Rhine itself, as well as in several tributaries, concrete actions on the biotopes are to be implemented in the context of the "Salmon 2000" project. The aim of these measures is to make available the required conditions (spawning grounds and habitats for young fishes) for the piscine fauna. Such ecosystems are situated in the entire Rhine river basin, and all countries bordering the Rhine are involved in the action. The actions on biotopes are being performed in France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In parallel with these, accompanying research activities are taking place in Switzerland. Among others, the following measures are implemented in the context of the project: - in France: Restitution of the Bruche river bed and re-shaping of the banks, creation of protective islands with plants in the canalized Rhine; - in Germany: Restitution of the possibilities of migration for long-distance fish in respect of weirs, nature-compatible connection of suitable lateral waters as spawning and young fish growing areas; - in Luxembourg: Restitution of potential spawning places, removal of sludge by coccolite circles - in the Netherlands: Improvement of economic handling of the closed Northern Ijssel Sea, monitoring of special sea trouts.