Our experienced team provides advice and assessments on the often-complex issues surrounding fish and eel pass projects, including fish biology and ecology, as well as engineering, hydrometry and hydrology.
APEM deliver fish and eel pass projects from initial problem identification and feasibility assessments, through to outline and detailed design. We lead and manage discussions with stakeholders and regulatory bodies, as well as working with clients to obtain consents.
Weirs, dams, sluices, gauging stations and other barriers to fish and eel movement are commonplace on our rivers and waterways.
Designing effective fish and eel passes at these barriers requires detailed fisheries, engineering and hydrology knowledge, with the benefits of proposed improvements carefully balanced against the need to manage existing water resources as well as flood monitoring and forecasting.
The experienced team at APEM has carried out numerous options appraisals and designs for fish and eel passes at standalone sites and for larger projects such as flood defence improvements and hydropower schemes. We have produced or overseen engineering and construction designs, both outline and detailed, for approval by the Environment Agency’s National Fish Pass Panel.
Our fisheries team has also assessed the passability of hundreds of barriers using state-of-the-art assessment techniques such as WFD111 and hydraulic modelling.
Our work is guided by the Environment Agency’s Fish Pass Manual.
APEM has undertaken numerous projects to assess fish and eel barriers and passage options across whole river catchments throughout the UK. We identify potential barriers and provide guidance to prioritise actions at a catchment level.
This allows clients to develop the most cost-effective measures and optimise benefits in line with environmental legislation, such as the Water Framework Directive and Eels Regulations.
The unique features of different sites affect the way that fish and eel can navigate them, which means that many passage improvements must be bespoke solutions. Our team is experienced in undertaking passage assessments and providing solutions and designs for a wide range of sites, including:
It is also essential that any proposed passes can be efficiently and safely constructed and maintained and that the completed pass does not pose a risk to members of the public or people maintaining the pass. Providing safe fish and eel passes is of paramount importance to APEM and all our design projects are undertaken in accordance with the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations (2015).
Our experience allows us to identify cost-effective fish and eel passage solutions at complex and challenging sites. APEM have an unrivalled track record of providing solutions at locations such as tidal environments, ecologically sensitive sites, flood risk zones and remote locations.
APEM’s team of experts also carries out monitoring to determine the passability of structures and the effectiveness of fish and eel passes. We design and implement bespoke monitoring programmes, including tagging and tracking studies, to assess the efficiency and performance of fish and eel passage solutions.
The team at APEM would be happy to answer any questions you have about fish and eel passes and barriers. Please use the form below to get in touch.
