<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The European eel, <italic>Anguilla anguilla</italic> L., is an endangered species. Barriers to its downstream spawning migration are one of the greatest threats this species faces. There are hundreds of hydroelectric plants (HEP) on rivers in Poland (> 600), and thousands throughout Europe. Eel that pass through HEP turbines as they migrate downstream suffer high mortality, but this depends mainly on local and technical conditions. Silver eel mortality was estimated and the possibility of the fish bypassing the turbines was studied between November 2013 and June 2014 at a typical HEP in northern Poland. Two telemetry methods were used with 49 eel: passive integrated transponder (PIT) system and acoustic telemetry. Fifty five percent of eel migrated downstream in fall 2013, soon after their release, and 45% migrated the next spring. The eel did not use the fish passes designed for upstream migration; thus, they were forced to go through the turbines, which resulted in 55% mortality. HEPs cause interruptions and delays in eel spawning migrations and are responsible for high eel mortality. This can make implementing an eel restitution plan difficult or even impossible in river systems with many barriers.</p></abstract>

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla L., is an endangered species. Barriers to its downstream spawning migration are one of the greatest threats this species faces. There are hundreds of hydroelectric plants (HEP) on rivers in Poland (> 600), and thousands throughout Europe. Eel that pass through HEP turbines as they migrate downstream suffer high mortality, but this depends mainly on local and technical conditions. Silver eel mortality was estimated and the possibility of the fish bypassing the turbines was studied between November 2013 and June 2014 at a typical HEP in northern Poland. Two telemetry methods were used with 49 eel: passive integrated transponder (PIT) system and acoustic telemetry. Fifty five percent of eel migrated downstream in fall 2013, soon after their release, and 45% migrated the next spring. The eel did not use the fish passes designed for upstream migration; thus, they were forced to go through the turbines, which resulted in 55% mortality. HEPs cause interruptions and delays in eel spawning migrations and are responsible for high eel mortality. This can make implementing an eel restitution plan difficult or even impossible in river systems with many barriers.

Mortality of silver eel (<italic>Anguilla anguilla</italic>) migrating downstream through a small hydroelectric plant on the Drawa River in northern Poland

Department of Migratory Fishes in Rutki, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mortality of silver eel () migrating downstream through a small hydroelectric plant on the Drawa River in northern Poland

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla L., is an endangered species. Barriers to its downstream spawning migration are one of the greatest threats this species...

Mortality of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) migrating downstream through a small hydroelectric plant on the Drawa River in northern Poland

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 69 - 75

Received: Jan 25, 2016

Accepted: Apr 11, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aopf-2016-0008

Keywords
eel, hydroelectric plant, mortality, spawning migration

© 2016 Archives of Polish Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mortality of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) migrating downstream through a small hydroelectric plant on the Drawa River in northern Poland

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 69 - 75

Received: Jan 25, 2016

Accepted: Apr 11, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aopf-2016-0008

Keywordseel, hydroelectric plant, mortality, spawning migration

© 2016 Archives of Polish Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
eel, hydroelectric plant, mortality, spawning migration