140 sea trout with a transmitter have been released in the Oude Diep near Peize in Drenthe. They must help conservationists find an answer to the question of what problems the fish encounter on their way to the Wadden Sea.
The young fish have been provided with a small transmitter by researchers. Several receivers have been installed along the water route to the Wadden Sea. “When the fish swim past there, they are detected”, says Wouter van der Heij of the Waddenvereniging RTV North. This allows the researchers to see whether fish get stuck somewhere on their route. “If there are bottlenecks, we will see if they can be resolved.”
Passage in locks
Previous research has shown that the lock of the Lauwersmeer is such a bottleneck. The fish could not easily swim further there. A passage has now been made in the lock. The Wadden Association wants to use these kinds of interventions to restore fish stocks in the Wadden Sea and in streams on the mainland, such as the Oude Diep.
Sea trout has been chosen for this release. This is a species that cannot be fished for, because according to Van der Heij it is still rare in Dutch waters. “In Denmark they have done similar actions and with success. There the sea trout is back in some places.”
The aim of the study is that in a number of years, a large population of sea trout will again be swimming around here in the Netherlands.
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