LIFE for Houting (Coregonus oxyrinchus*) and other threatened fish and bird species in and along the Danish River Kongeå

The distribution of the Houting fish species (Coregonus oxyrinchus*) has declined over the past 100 years. The species has gone from being common in the Wadden Sea area, which stretches from Holland to southwestern parts of Denmark, to being close to extinct. The Houting is now only found in the Danish part of the Wadden Sea, and in very small numbers. The current Houting population in the project area is estimated to be ~ 50 individuals.

The decline has been caused by a number of factors, including habitat degradation, presence of migration barriers, and lack of nursery areas for the Houting fry (young).

The Houting is a species of national importance in Denmark. It requires clean, well oxygenated water, stretches of stone and gravel riverbed with free passage, and access for the newly hatched fry to areas with static water, such as flooded meadows.

To create the conditions for a self-sustaining population of 3,000 individuals, the quality of the river needs to be improved, and the adjacent farmland restored to allow flooding and provide suitable conditions for the newly hatched fry.  

This project concerns one Natura 2000 site in the Wadden Sea Marsh.

The LIFE River Kongeaa project aims to improve the conservation status of several protected fish species and one protected habitat type (3260) which currently all have an unfavourable conservation status.  In addition to the targeted species, the project will have positive effects for seven breeding and one wintering Annex I bird species and three Annex IV species of the Habitats Directive.

The project area is around 644 hectares (ha) along the lower part of the River Kongeå, including the river and its river valley. At present, the site is intensive farmland, situated near the Wadden Sea, an area of international importance for the Houting and a number of birds.

The project will adopt a holistic approach to river restoration and restoration of associated adjacent agricultural land.  The project’s specific objectives are to:

1. Increase and support the populations, and improve the conservation status of, Coregonus. oxyrinchus*; maintain the current population of Salmo salar; and increase the population of Lampetra fluviatilis and Petromyzon marinus in the River Kongeå, by restoring the river and by hydrological restoration of the river valley, as well as extending and improving the quality of habitat 3260 (water courses).
2. Increase the populations and the conservation status of breeding pairs of several Birds Directive Annex I species through improving and restoring resting, feeding and breeding habitats and by controlling predators.  
3. Increase the population number and the conservation status of Habitat Directive Annex IV species through habitat improvements.
4. Improve dissemination about the restored Natura 2000 site to the public, by providing information online as well as providing guided tours for the public.
5. Provide a wider uptake in related projects, by sharing the project results as well as working in close communication with relevant projects.