Wildlife

Wild Freshwater Fish Passage Restoration

Removing obsolete dams and culverts restores migratory fish passage and improves welfare for populations unable to complete natural life cycles.

Key Facts

Over 60% of global river systems are fragmented by dams
Migratory fish unable to reach spawning grounds experience reproductive failure
Fish passage restorations have recovered local salmon and lamprey populations
Thousands of small dams in Europe and North America are candidates for removal

Welfare Considerations

River barriers prevent fish from completing natural migratory behaviors, leading to reproductive failure and population decline. Fish unable to spawn that have undergone physiological migration preparation face a welfare mismatch between their internal state and environmental constraint.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal and fish passage restoration projects
Advocate for fish passage requirements in hydropower licensing
Donate to river restoration organizations
Back policy reforms requiring fish passage consideration in infrastructure decisions