LIFE and freshwater fish

The conservation of Europe’s freshwater fish and their habitats is an important EU policy goal, supported not only through the Habitats Directive and the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, but also, because of the clear and close links between water quality and fish conservation status, through the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and associated River Basin Management Plans. As the only specific source of European-level funding for nature conservation, the LIFE programme has made a huge contribution to the improved status of threatened fish species across the EU.
Projects within this publication can be divided into several categories: those that highlight the impact of river habitat restoration projects on fish species (some 80% of all freshwater fish projects); those that reintroduce or restock target fish species; those that overcome barriers to migratory species through the addition of fish passages; and those that raise awareness of the threats facing protected fish species and that engage with stakeholders to improve conditions for those species. 
In addition to highlighting the positive impacts of LIFE on freshwater fish conservation, this new brochure provides food for thought by outlining some lessons from completed projects and potential improvements or areas of renewed or increased focus in future