New Study Monitors Fish Migration in the Leie and Scheldt Rivers
Over recent weeks, researchers from the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) have deployed an extensive network of detection devices along the Leie and Scheldt rivers, spanning from the French border to the Netherlands. The latest detection station was installed at the fish passage in Harelbeke, near the newly constructed sluice complex. In total, approximately 80 detection posts have been submerged to monitor fish fitted with transmitters.
The study aims to map migration patterns of various fish species, which undertake these journeys to reach spawning grounds or overwintering habitats. However, these rivers are dotted with obstacles, such as navigation lock complexes, that disrupt migration routes. To address this, De Vlaamse Waterweg, the Flemish waterway authority, has invested in the construction of fish passages to make these barriers more navigable. Data from the study will help assess the impact of these obstacles and guide strategies to facilitate fish movement past them.
The research focuses on six fish species, including the river lamprey, which migrates upstream to spawn, and the European eel, which travels downstream to the sea to reproduce. Other species being tracked include bream, roach, catfish, and ide—all of which complete their life cycles in freshwater but must navigate through the shipping lock complexes during migration.
Each year for the next decade, 200 fish will be equipped with trackers compatible with the LifeWatch Belgium acoustic receiver network. The study leverages the LifeWatch Belgium Fish Acoustic Receiver Network and associated data services to facilitate real-time tracking and analysis. This long-term data collection will enable researchers to gain deeper insights into fish migration patterns, optimise fish passages, and address migration bottlenecks, such as those at the Scheldt in Merelbeke.
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