Session C2: How Migrating Fish Survives Between Law, Politics, and Permits for Hydropower

Abstract: Although hydropower is a small energy source in the Netherlands, it is often discussed in the media, among stakeholders, and in politics. On the one hand, the Dutch government promotes the development of sustainable energy. On the other hand, these projects can cause damage to migratory fish. Since the Dutch large rivers are crucial as main ports for many migratory fish species, the water manager (Rijkswaterstaat) has developed an official policy rule for a transparent decision-making on hydropower issues. The rule provides a specific framework for decision makers when assessing projects for hydropower stations. It aims to allow for new initiatives while at the same time it enables the reaching of fish-protection targets set under three important policies for protection of migrating fish (Regulation for Eel, Benelux Decision, and the WFD). Stakeholders from both fishing organizations and hydropower companies have been consulted in the drafting of the framework.The framework consists of a description of available techniques and criteria for fish damage, including an explanation on how and where they are applied. The damage on two vulnerable species (Eel and Salmon) needs to be tested during downstream migration. If the damage on these species meets the criteria set in the policy rule, the level of protection at the plant is considered to be sufficient for the protection of the whole fish community. In two large river stretches which are suitable for hydropower, cumulative fish damage caused by hydropower needs to be lower than 10% for both eel and salmon. If the present damage in the river stretch is already higher than 10%, new hydropower stations are only allowed when fish damage is lower than \u3c0,1% per location. In other water bodies important for fish migration, damage must be always lower than 0,1% per water body

Marine chemical contaminants – support to the harmonization of MSFD D8 methodological standards: Matrices and threshold values/reference levels for relevant substances

According to the Article 17(2) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Member States have to review and update their marine strategies every six years. This requires updates of the MSFD Articles 8, 9 and 10 by 2018. The current report provides an overview of the substances, matrices and threshold values that Member States intend to use for the assessment of the Descriptor 8 in this MSFD reporting cycle. This compilation aims at evaluating gaps and discrepancies between Member States and identifying aspects that need further harmonization. It also helps understand which issues should be addressed to achieve consistency with the new MSFD Commission Decision (EU 2017/848). The information has been gathered from the contributions of the MSFD Expert Network on Contaminants, an informal network established to support MSFD implementation. This work is part of a process to help regulators to assess relevant contaminants in their jurisdictional area, thus aiming at EU national authorities but also at Regional Sea Conventions in the shared marine basins.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource