Fish species use the Wadden region in various ways. Some fish grow on it and then leave. Others stay there all their lives. There are also fish species that reproduce in the fresh water (mainland) and later migrate to the Ocean or the North Sea via the Wadden Sea. And sometimes the other way around. We are working on removing obstacles to these migratory fish along the entire Wadden coast. And on solutions to make fish migration possible. In this way we contribute to the recovery of the fish stock in the Wadden Sea.
Measuring is knowing
Data is needed to know how the fish species in the Wadden Sea are doing. And also to understand what we need to do to restore fish stocks. A long-term monitoring program is required for this. Researchers, managers and fishermen play a role in this.
In the short film below, Jaap Vegter of Cooperation Vissers van de Kust and Martha Buitenkamp from Programme towards a Rich Wadden Sea (PRW) talk about the importance of long-term monitoring and how this works in practice at the monitoring trap Zoutkamperlaag below Schiermonnikoog.
Trilateral Cooperation
The three Wadden Sea countries Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands are working together to turn the tide of the decline of fish in the Wadden Sea. Among other things, by sharing and linking knowledge and data and learning from each other’s approach. The Swimway Action Programme is the umbrella for four pillars in trilateral cooperation: research and monitoring, policy, management, communication and education. For example, we work together for rich fish stocks and fish habitats, an important contribution to achieving the target image of a rich Wadden Sea.
Would you like to know more about the importance of fish monitoring and trilateral cooperation for Swimway?
Then you can contact Martha Buitenkamp. You can find her contact details here.
