Another step towards the restoration of the Rábagyarmati backwater
We have previously reported that, with the help of European Union funds, a Hungarian consortium has submitted a tender for the preliminary and comprehensive planning of restoration processes for the Danube and its tributaries, affecting several countries and beneficial for migratory fish species, including the reconstruction of the backwater and wetland habitat near Rábagyarmat.
On behalf of our association , Norbert Puskás, executive president, and József Mesterházy, fish management group leader, participated in the DANUBE LifeLines professional forum organized by the Őrség National Park Directorate on November 4th, where, in addition to the experts of the national park, the head of the Fish and Conservation Ecology Research Group of the HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute and representatives of the water management planning company carrying out the complex planning discussed possible technical solutions.
The representative of the organization conducting the geodetic surveys presented the feasible solutions to the participants, from which the participants chose the design that was most beneficial for the flow-loving fish species included in the project and also had the lowest maintenance costs.
When planning this "seemingly simple" intervention, many interrelated water management, nature conservation, ecological, fish biology, water quality and economic aspects must be taken into account, as the primary goal of the restoration is to create a tributary where the flow speed, volume and depth of the water primarily provide a suitable spawning and rearing place for the flow-loving fish fauna of the Rába, with the lowest possible sediment management and other maintenance costs.
During the professional forum, those present selected the most appropriate version, taking into account the above aspects, and recorded professional findings that should be primarily taken into account when preparing the detailed design documentation and during future construction.
The representatives of our association present during the professional consultation emphasized that they consider the creation of suitable natural spawning grounds for the native fish species of the Rába River, especially the flow-loving fish species, and the preservation and restoration of existing habitats to be of utmost importance. We have been actively participating in the preparation of the project and in the professional consultations for the past two years, and we intend to continue to be committed to helping its successful implementation in the future. If the planned habitat reconstruction is implemented, we intend to treat the affected areas as a conservation area for the purpose of fish stock protection, thereby promoting the undisturbed reproduction of native fish species, the development of fry and the long-term renewal of the natural fish stock of the Rába.
We are confident that once the complex plans are completed, we will be able to secure funding for implementation, which we will report on immediately.
