The Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (FROV JU) is a co-investigator of the integrated LIFE project "Implementation of the river basin management plan in selected river sub-basins in Slovakia - Living Rivers", which is being solved in the years 2023-2032 and coordinated by the Slovak Research Institute of Water Management.
The Living Rivers project will contribute to the implementation of the 3rd Water Plan - Management Plan of the Danube Basin Administrative Area in Slovakia by implementing measures in the Danube, Hron, Ipeľ and Belá river basins.
The project supports the achievement of the ecological objectives of the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive, which aims to ensure good ecological status / good ecological potential of waters in 10 water bodies and to improve a total of 344 km of watercourses through hydromorphological measures, appropriate care of protected areas, restoration of floodplain forests and non-forest habitats. As part of the project, the removal of barriers to fish migration and active measures to restore their habitats will support natural reproduction and strengthen populations of native species.
FFPW USB is mainly involved in:
- proposal to restore the longitudinal and lateral continuity of selected water bodies by removing or reconstructing barriers, restoring wetlands, floodplains to improve habitat diversity in rivers, better conditions for lateral migration and reproduction of ichthyofauna.
- restoration of wild populations of originally protected rheophilic fish (including sturgeons and salmonids) using in situ methods, implementation of new methods for collection of fish early ontogenetic stages and their adoption for the conditions of the Danube River in Slovakia.
- monitoring and implementation of various innovative methods, for example, screening of substances of concern in surface water pollution, telemetric ichthyological surveys, monitoring of ichthyoplankton using network methods
- transfer of knowledge, education, cooperation with public organizations in water management and fisheries management planning and implementation of relevant plans.
- raising awareness and public acceptance of nature-friendly solutions and revitalization activities by promoting the necessity of increasing biodiversity and resilience to climate change.
On the occasion of the Kick-off meeting of the project, which takes place on 23rd May 2023 in Bratislava, Slovakia this press release was issued.
Photogallery
