The rehabilitation of the Närpiönjoki River begins and the Ähtäväjoki continues – now the routes of hiking fish are explored from the sea to whom

Rehabilitation projects are intended to improve the state of the water and make the free flow of hiking fish.

The Parliamentary Finance Committee awarded a separate grant for the renovations of the Närpiönjoki and Ähtäväjoki River.

Projects starting with the help of the grant are to improve the free flow of hiking fish, such as sea trout, from the sea to the river.

– Let’s find out if something can be done in a freshwater basin to make it easier for fish to enter the river.

The base dams are an obstacle when the river comes up.

– The upper parts of the Närpiönjoki River have good spawning areas for hiking fish and that is why the Närpiönjoki River is significant for the increase in hiking fish, Nousiainen adds.

According to Nousiainen, in previous years, the ELY Center has received pictures of big sea trout at the top of the river. Significant numbers of trout chicks in the Närpiönjoki have also been observed in chick studies.

After removing the rise of the ascent, some of the rapids would also be necessary.

According to Nousiainen, the rapids serve as important spawning areas.

The project is led by the city of Närpiö and the money is € 110,000. It is hoped that the Närpiönjoki rehabilitation project is hoped to have a positive impact on the state of hiking fish stocks throughout the Northern Sea.

In Ähtäväjoki, the renovation continues

Ostrobothnia Water and Environment Association. Starts the Fish and Helmet project on Ähtävänjoki.

It is a follow -up to a study conducted in 2020 and 2021 to create organic fish roads and breeding areas for salmon fish in the Ähtäväjoki water body.

Now the intention is to find out the construction of fish roads in connection with power plant dams.

– Implementation in Ähtäväjoki is more difficult because there are nine power plants and power plant dams in the river. Now we are being able to investigate the possibility of building fish roads from the lower reaches to the first dam, says Kyösti Nousiainen, a fishing master.

According to Nousiainen, the construction of a fish road in connection with the power plant would cost around EUR 1 million.

The grant granted to the project is EUR 100,000. It is not very much enough to ensure the rise of hiking fish.

– In Parliament, money granters should take into account that money would also be required for implementation. There would be no reporting in the box and states over the years that this was done, but never done, Nousiainen hopes.