Fish and hydropower on the U.S. Atlantic coast: failed fisheries policies from half‐way technologies

Brown, James; Limburg, Karin E.; Waldman, John R.; Stephenson, Kurt; Glenn, Edward P.; Juanes, Francis; Jordaan, Adrian

doi:10.1111/conl.12000

Cited by 156 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…For example, fish and other organisms can be injured or killed by turbine blades [66]. Dams also block migration routes for migratory fish [67][68][69], isolating populations and increasing their risk of extinction [70]. Moreover, dam construction and operation have also been shown to have a significant impact on microzooplankton richness [60] and the density and composition of macroinvertebrate communities [10,25].…”

Section: Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Water

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Abstract:We critically analyzed a set of ecological models that are used to assess the impact of hydropower dams on water quality and habitat suitability for biological communities. After a literature search, we developed an integrated conceptual model that illustrates the linkages between the main input variables, model approaches, the output variables and biotic-abiotic interactions in the ecosystems related to hydropower dams. We found that variations in water flow and water depth coupled with increased nutrient availability are major variables that contribute to structural and functional ecosystem changes. We also found that ecological models are an important tool to assess the impact of hydropower dams. For instance, model simulation of different scenarios (e.g., with and without the dam, different operation methods) can analyze and predict the related ecosystem shifts. However, one of the remaining shortcomings of these models is the limited capacity to separate dam-related impacts from other anthropogenic influences (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). Moreover, collecting sufficient high-quality data to increase the statistical power remains a challenge. The severely altered conditions (e.g., generation of very deep lakes) also lead to difficulties for standardized data collection. We see future opportunities in the integration of models to improve the understanding of the different processes affected by hydropower dam development and operation, as well as the use of remote sensing methods for data collection.

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Section: Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Water

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“…These limitations cannot be ignored, since they compromise the primary function of FPF (i.e., reestablishment of migratory movements) and may promote changes in the structure and distribution of populations at the regional level, causing additional impacts (Pelicice, Agostinho, 2008). In summary, the common assertion that FPF are efficient management tools has been challenged by studies conducted in South America (cited above) and elsewhere (McLaughlin et al, 2012;Brown et al, 2013;Kemp, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish passages in South America: an overview of studied facilities and research effort

et al. 2017

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River regulation has fragmented fluvial ecosystems in South America, affecting fish migration and dispersion dynamics. In response, authorities have installed fish passage facilities (FPF) to mitigate impacts. However, little is known about the geographical distribution of these facilities, and no synthesis of the research effort applied to understanding their functioning and limitations exists. To address this issue, our study gathered the available scientific literature about fishways in South America to provide an overview of studied FPF and associated research effort. We found 80 studies that investigated 25 FPF, mostly ladders installed in the upper reaches of large rivers, particularly in the Paraná River Basin. One important finding is that most facilities do not lead to upstream and/or downstream sites due to the presence of other dams with no FPF. Though the number of studies has increased over the past 10 years, there is no consistent trend towards increased research effort. Overall, studies have focused on the fishway itself (i.e. upstream passage), and rarely evaluated broader issues (i.e. habitat distribution, population dynamics, conservation and management success). Our research therefore identified technical limitations of past studies, and revealed important gaps in the knowledge of FPF as a management tool.Keywords: Conservation, Dam, Fishway, Impact, Management.A implantação de barragens tem perturbado e fragmentado os ecossistemas fluviais da América do Sul, afetando a migração dos peixes e dinâmicas de dispersão. Sistemas de transposição de peixes (STPs) têm sido instalados na tentativa de atenuar esses impactos. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a distribuição geográfica desses dispositivos, bem como o esforço de pesquisa aplicado para entender seu funcionamento e limitações. Nosso trabalho reuniu a literatura disponível com a finalidade de fornecer um panorama sobre os mecanismos investigados na América do Sul, bem como revelar o esforço e perfil das pesquisas. Encontramos 80 estudos que investigaram 25 STPs, a maioria escadas instaladas nos trechos superiores de grandes rios, particularmente na bacia do rio Paraná. Um resultado interessante é que a maior parte dos STPs está desconectada de trechos a montante e jusante devido à presença de outras barragens sem STPs. Embora o número de estudos tenha aumentado na última década, não registramos tendência consistente de incremento ao longo dos anos. No geral, os estudos abordam aspectos do próprio STP, especificamente a passagem ascendente, ignorando temas mais abrangentes (i.e. distribuição de habitats, dinâmica populacional). Além disso, o foco da pesquisa se direciona especialmente às questões de eficiência da passagem e raramente ao contexto da conservação e sucesso do manejo. Nossa avaliação, portanto, indicou que os estudos pretéritos são tecnicamente limitados, revelando importantes lacunas sobre o conhecimento dos STPs como medida de manejo.

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“…Recent restoration efforts have led to differences in river herring abundance in bays of the Maine coast. There was an order of magnitude difference in river herring run size between Passamaquoddy Bay and Midcoast Maine (Table 1), and those numbers likely underestimate the total number of adults because fishways do not pass all the fish that return to spawn (Brown et al 2013). Where the biggest river herring restoration gains have been made we found evidence of more fish in cod diets, higher cod CPUE and more diverse cod diets.…”

Section: River Restoration and Nearshore Food Websmentioning

confidence: 82%

Diets and Stable Isotope Derived Food Web Structure of Fishes from the Inshore Gulf of Maine

Willis

Wilson

Johnson

2016

Estuaries and Coasts

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In the nearshore Gulf of Maine, a combination of factors (overfishing, ecosystem change, and ocean warming) is thought to govern groundfish recovery. We analyzed feeding habits of demersal predatory fish from Midcoast Maine (abundant river herring) and Passamaquoddy Bay (low river herring) in eastern Maine, using stomach content and stable isotope analyses, to determine the prevalence of river herring (alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, and blueback herring, A. aestivalis) in nearshore (<4.5 km) groundfish diets. Invertebrates dominated all predator diets at all sites. At Midcoast sites, catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of Atlantic cod was higher, and fish predators showed a strong seasonal pattern in river herring consumptio n co mpared t o Passamaqouddy Bay. Cod, pollock (Pollachius virens), and sculpins (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus and M. scorpius) from Midcoast sites tended to be enriched in δ 15 N relative to Passamaquoddy Bay. Contrasting fast vs. slow turnover tissue (fin vs. muscle) indicated that focal species migrated or food availability changed seasonally and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in Passamaquoddy Bay were assimilating into a trophically depleted food web.We posit that lack of forage fish in Passamaquoddy Bay contributed to conditions that encourage an invertebrate based diet. River herring are also an order of magnitude less abundant in Passamaquoddy Bay than at Midcoast sites, limiting the availability of this seasonal food source. River restoration may contribute to recovery of groundfish stocks nearshore by increasing the availability of high lipid, seasonally available prey.

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Fish and hydropower on the U.S. Atlantic coast: failed fisheries policies from half‐way technologies

Cited by 156 publications

References 42 publications

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Fish passages in South America: an overview of studied facilities and research effort

Diets and Stable Isotope Derived Food Web Structure of Fishes from the Inshore Gulf of Maine

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