Wild Migratory Fish and Dam Passage Welfare

Dams block the migration of salmon, eels, shad, and other migratory fish species, causing population collapse and preventing animals from completing the life cycles they are biologically driven to fulfill.

Key Facts

Over 60% of the world's major river systems are affected by dam fragmentation
Atlantic salmon populations have collapsed in rivers fragmented by dams without adequate fish passage
American eels cannot complete their migration cycle without access to headwater habitat
Fishways and fish ladders reduce but do not eliminate migration barriers for most species
Dam removal has proven highly effective at restoring migratory fish populations

Welfare Considerations

Fish biologically driven to migrate are not simply blocked by dams — they exhaust themselves attempting to fulfill an imperative they cannot override. Salmon that cannot reach spawning grounds spend themselves in futile upstream attempts, dying downstream without reproducing. Eels blocked from reaching ocean spawning grounds live out extended lives unable to complete their biological destiny. The welfare dimension of dam fragmentation extends beyond population statistics to the frustration of fundamental biological drives in individual fish whose motivation to migrate is as powerful as any behavioral drive in more recognized sentient species.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal campaigns on rivers with historic salmon and eel populations
Donate to American Rivers and other dam removal advocacy organizations
Advocate for fish passage requirements on all existing and proposed dams
Choose electricity from utilities committed to improving fish passage infrastructure
Engage with watershed restoration projects that include migratory fish recovery goals