Sponsors, Exhibitors and Media Partners

Managing River Flows for Salmonids

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York Marriott Hotel, Tadcaster Rd.

Flows are of critical importance to all forms of aquatic life in rivers, but are under severe pressure in many areas. Increasing demand for water and the effects of climate change threaten to make matters worse. Effective management of flows will be vital if the Water Framework Directive's target of all rivers achieving good ecological status is to be met.

There have been major developments in the scientific understanding of the flow requirements of salmonids since the last AST meeting on this issue 20 years ago, together with extensive changes in regulatory regimes. The aim of this symposium is to review these developments and consider how they can best inform the practical management of river flows. It will be followed later by a workshop that will seek to develop practical guidance for regulators and river managers.

The Symposium is a participatory event with three main objectives:

  1. To review and summarise scientific progress over last 20 years in the understanding of relationships between river flows (including related thermal regimes) and salmonids in rivers and the methods for setting of flow objectives in the British Isles.
  2. To develop evidence-based best practice on flow objectives setting and management for salmonids, including those necessary to maintain rivers at good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive. (These will be firmed up through the later workshop)
  3. To identify gaps in knowledge and priorities for future R&D.

The meeting will focus on migratory salmonids - salmon and sea trout - given the critical effect river flows have on these fish at all stages of their complex life cycles, but will refer to other species where appropriate.

Communications and Management for Sustainability are acting as booking agents for the Atlantic Salmon Trust.

Download the conference programme as an MSWord document or a PDF document .

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