Date of label : 29/10/2024
Naturalised fish passage - River Águeda
Summary
The LIFE Águeda ecological restoration project aims to (re)naturalise rivers in the Vouga River Basin (PT) and restore habitats to achieve the objectives of different EU directives (Water Framework Directive, Birds and Habitats directives). The project promotes an increase in biodiversity, in terms of fauna and flora, and helps bring people closer to the river. The interventions rehabilitate river banks, with nature-based solutions, control of invasive plant species, and reforestation. The project also includes a strong awareness-raising component, with volunteer activities, workshops for students and the community, and more people better informed about the river.
The solutions offered by the Good Practice
The LIFE Águeda project (2017-2025) focuses on reducing hydromorphological pressures and restoring habitats along 50 km of the Águeda and Alfusqueiro rivers, in the Vouga river basin. Key actions include:
- Removing weirs that act as barriers to migratory fish species.
- Constructing five fish passes.
- Removing invasive species.
- Reforestation with native tree and shrub species.
- Translocation of endangered species, including juvenile European eels.
The project emphasises environmental awareness, with actions in schools and the community reaching more than 7 600 people.
Other initiatives include:
- The valorisation of native fish, with the development of a mobile registration station and the creation of a "Fishing in Portugal" app.
- The acquisition of an e-CaR (consisting of a wheelchair with an electric Swiss Trac motor), the adaptation of three walking routes to make them more accessible, and the installation of interpretive panels.
All these methodologies bring people closer to the river, involve them in its protection, and restore the ecological status of habitats.
Building on the sustainable and integrated urban approach
The LIFE Águeda project addresses interconnected environmental, economic and social challenges of the Vouga river basin.
Environmental: The ecological restoration will benefit over 50 km of aquatic and riverside habitats, due to the removal of weirs, the installation of fish passages, the transposition of native fish to newly-reconnected habitats, and the removal of invasive species. All these interventions will increase the resilience of 35 ha of river banks to flooding.
Economic: Sustainable fishing will be promoted through the valorisation of the "fish of the River Vouga", supported by the provision of the mobile registration post and a seal of origin.
Social: Improved quality-of-life through riverside recreation, improved air quality through the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, and the adaptation of walking routes. The environmental awareness actions are changing behaviour at local level, and also regionally and nationally due to partners from across Portugal.
Based on participatory approach
The LIFE Águeda project is coordinated by the University of Évora/MARE, in partnership with multidisciplinary teams from the Municipality of Águeda, Municipality of Mora, Fluviário de Mora, Docapesca, and Aqualogus.
The project is also supported by entities such as Navigator, EDP, the Secretary of State for Fisheries, the Directorate for the Inspection, Monitoring and Control of Maritime Activities, and the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere. These work together to ensure compatibility of river uses.
Important input has also been provided by the Portuguese Environment Agency, and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests. Meetings of the "Monitoring Committee" or "Public Sessions" are held with the participation of parish councils, fishermen, water management bodies, associations, and the community, to discuss the progress of the work and the next steps.
Participatory environmental education actions have already involved more than 7 600 people. These are often organised by the Municipality of Águeda, together with other partners such as the University of Évora and the Fluviário de Mora.
What difference has it made?
The LIFE Águeda project has achieved a significant local impact:
- Improved ecological status of 51 km of river stretches, with enhanced structure of around 30 ha of riparian habitats.
- Adaptation of walking routes, provision of equipment for accessible tourism, interpretive panels, and generally improved conditions for leisure, sporting and other activities on the river.
- Removal of 8 obstacles to improve river continuity on the Águeda and Alfusqueiro rivers.
- Installation of 3 permanent (naturalised) fish passages and 2 temporary passages.
- Increased resilience of 35 ha of river plains to flooding.
- Sustainable fisheries management, including new tools like the "Fishing in Portugal" app, and a seal of origin for fish from the Vouga river basin to boost the local economy (increasing its commercial value by at least 25%).
- Improved habitat for migrating fish, including a critically endangered diadromous species (migrating from sea to freshwater), and at least 4 other protected species.
- Involvement of over 7 600 participants in environmental awareness and education activities, such as workshops, conferences, and volunteer actions.
- Implementation of a River Knowledge Centre.
Why this Good Practice should be transferred to other cities
The methodologies of the LIFE Águeda project can be replicated in different territories, making it possible to improve water resources, increase the commercial value of native fish species, and raise community awareness of these issues. Measures, such as the installation of fish passages, the removal of invasive species, and environmental awareness actions, have a reach far beyond the local context.
The project aligns with international policy initiatives and EU directives, including:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDGs 4, 6, 11, 13, 14, and 15.
- Water Framework Directive.
- Floods Directive.
- EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
- EU Eel Regulation.
The methodologies can be replicated in other European contexts. Project sites, including the fish passages, have been visited by many other cities and organisations.
The Municipality of Águeda has been replicating some of the good practices in other watercourses, such as the removal of invasive species (terrestrial and aquatic) and the implementation of natural-based engineering solutions.
The ongoing dissemination of the results, including through workshops and seminars, enable other cities to learn about the project’s methodologies. The project’s several partners have implemented different actions in their territories, and this has initiated a "knowledge network" that other cities can join.