Session E2: The North Sea Canal: A Highway for Fish and Ships

Abstract: The North Sea Canal is a very suitable entrance for diadromous fishspecies, such as eel, flounder, 3-spiny stickle back, smelt e.g. Some characteristics of the canal are favouring the migration of diadromous fish, in special the existence of a gradiënt of salt, the full exchange of water in and out of the shipdocks at IJmuiden and the numerous connections of the canal with its surrounding polders and main inland waters. The last 20 years, there are a lot of measures taken along the borders of this waterbody, to ensure an unprohibited migration of (diadromous) fish between sea, canal and smaller waterbodys in the polderlandscape. The oral presentation focuses on three subjects: 1) the diversity of technical solutions for fishpassages, adapted to each local situation (an overview) 2) the measures for fishmigration taken at IJmuiden and the Oranjesluizen (Amsterdam) 3) the good cooperation between regional watermanagers to operate succesfully on this subject Moral of the presentation: fish connects