FREE PASSAGE FOR FISH IN LINKÖPING
To ensure free migration routes for aquatic species, including the rare asp, the municipality of Linköping, in collaboration with Tekniska Verken, has built a modern fishway at Nykvarnsholmen. The fishway, designed as a natural bypass, allows fish and other aquatic animals to safely bypass the dam and Nykvarn hydroelectric plant. This project eliminates a migration barrier that has been in place for over 150 years. It is part of a larger initiative to environmentally adapt hydropower in line with the EU Water Framework Directive and the national plan for sustainable hydropower.
FISH COUNTER MONITORING MIGRATION
An advanced fish counter, TiVA FC, has been installed alongside the fishway to monitor and analyze fish migration. Using high-resolution cameras and AI technology, it tracks the number, species, direction, and size of fish passing through. Other aquatic animals, such as otters and beavers, have also been observed, highlighting the fishway’s significance for biodiversity. This advanced technology allows real-time monitoring, ensuring the project achieves its goals.
“The new fish counter gives us excellent opportunities to assess the fishway’s performance while also providing the public with fascinating TV. In near real-time, anyone can watch the fish’s journey through the free passage from Roxen to Tannefors” says Jakob Bergengren, fisheries biologist and environmental engineer at Tekniska Verken.
INTEGRATED INTO URBAN ENVIRONMENT
The fishway at Nykvarnsholmen not only serves the aquatic fauna but is also designed to blend into the surrounding park environment, enhancing the area’s appeal for Linköping’s residents. This is an example of how modern environmental technology can be integrated into urban areas to promote ecological sustainability and biodiversity. The fish counter is owned by the municipality of Linköping and installed at Tekniska Verken’s facility. The project was funded by the Stångå River Fish Conservation Association and The World Wide Fund for Nature Sweden.
An asp passing through the TiVA FC in Stångån, Linköping
A TiVA FC installed in the fishway.
The downstream outlet of the fishway at Nykvarn Power Station, Linköping.