FIsh counting data SHaring for ecosystem STEWARDS
Sweden is undertaking major efforts to rehabilitate the ecological function in rivers impacted by hydropower, aiming to halt biodiversity loss through measures like fish passage solutions and environmental flows. However, we currently lack efficient tools to evaluate whether these efforts are reaching the intended rehabilitation goals.
Fish counters, i.e. automated camera systems that record fish movements, offer a promising, cost-effective and non-invasive solution to track the success of rehabilitation measures. Yet today, data from these systems is scattered, inconsistent, and often inaccessible. FISH STEWARDS is an innovative project that addresses this gap by creating a national, open-access database for standardized fish counter data. We bring together key stakeholders, from government agencies to hydropower companies, to co-develop technical solutions and data-sharing agreements. The project also explores how new technologies like multi-camera systems can replace more expensive and invasive monitoring methods.
By unlocking the full potential of fish counter data, FISH STEWARDS enables better decision-making, more effective river rehabilitation, increased knowledge about our fish fauna, and long-term biodiversity protection in Sweden and beyond.