Houting - Urgent actions for the endangered Houting Coregonus oxyrhunchus, Denmark

The overall project objective was to restore and maintain a favourable conservation status for the houting in four Danish river systems. The project has explored possibilities and developed recommendations for reintroduction into other parts of the houting's previous distribution range within the EU. It has a positive effect on all other components of the river ecosystems including the conservation status of the habitat type ‘Water courses characterised by Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion communities’. It has resulted in improved access to areas of spawning habitats for other anadromous fish species in Denmark, and has improved habitat conditions for the otter. Weirs and dams in the four river systems have been removed and riffles or meanders constructed in order to facilitate upstream migration. Two hydroelectric power plants and three fish farms have been decommissioned. River sections have been restored with gravel and stone, creating new spawning grounds, and a combination of changes to hydrology and construction works have created new flooded areas adjacent to the river. The project has implemented in broad cooperation between a number of stakeholders including local and regional authorities, land and fish farm owners, a regional angling society, and owners of hydrological installations.