Evaluation of nature-like fishways for re-establishing connectivity in fragmented salmonid populations in the River Emån

We evaluated the function of two nature-like fishways for re-establishing connectivity for anadromous salmonids in the regulated River Emån. Between 90 and 100% of the salmonids that entered the fishways actually passed through them, with median speeds of 180–190 m h−1. Only 50% of the anadromous brown trout that passed the first fishway also passed the second one, indicating that the fish might have had problems locating the upstream fishway. The fishways were also observed to function as a passage for downstream post-spawning migrants. The densities of brown trout yearlings upstream of the fishways were higher in 2002, after the fishways were built, than during pre-fishway years. In control sites in other parts of the river as well as in a nearby river, no changes in yearling densities were observed. Thus, the fishways are working for upstream spawners, albeit at a recolonization rate that is slower than expected.