Abstract
Fish protection and downstream fish migration has been an item of intensive and often controversial discussions in recent years in Germany, both from an environmental policy perspective and a technical point of view. In response, the Federal Environment Agency, with support from Ecologic Institute, initiated a Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Fish Migration in 2012.
The Forum includes participants from federal and regional water resource management authorities, nature and angler NGOs, consultancies, water managers and hydropower. More than 200 stakeholders have engaged in a dialogue process on the following jointly-identified key topics: environmental policy and legal framework; river basin-related strategies; applied behavioral and population biology; technical measures for fish protection and downstream migration; monitoring.
The Forum has hosted a series of interactive workshops and conferences to foster dialogue and has achieved the exchange of information and experiences on the various topics put on the table. To increase acceptability and engagement of participants in the process, the Forum has not actively sought to reach consensus. In the outcomes of discussion on conflicting topics, both common and differing opinions have been taken on board. In addition, a common understanding has been developed on the current state of knowledge and technology that needs to be taken into account for fish protection, downstream fish migration and the conservation and establishment of fish populations. Next to the identification of key problem areas, the Forum experts proposed initial solutions and identified needs for further research and practical action.
In 2014, the Forum produced a synthesis as a result of the discussions taking place so far during the workshops. The Forum participants have highlighted the improvement that has taking place in the debate culture on the topic of fish protection and downstream migration within Germany due to the Forum events. The participants highly recommended continuing this type of dialogue process
