A Swansea University project to improve understanding of fish behaviour in Welsh rivers and seas has received a £657,000 funding boost.
The fisheries research has been funded after making a successful bid to a prestigious environmental funding programme, overseen by Welsh Government.
It was named as one of the projects chosen to benefit from the latest round of the Nature Networks Fund. Delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural Resources Wales, the Fund helps Welsh Government work towards the Global Biodiversity Framework 30 by 30 goal, which aims to protect and effectively manage 30 per cent of the planet’s marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments by 2030.
The Swansea team, based in the Faculty of Science Engineering, is now using the funding to help carry out the acoustic tagging of sea trout and twaite shad on the River Tywi, and salmon and twaite shad on the River Wye, as well as marine species including rays, bass and spurdog. It will also support the maintenance of a large array of acoustic receivers in the Bristol Channel to track fish movements throughout the channel, including fish tagged by researchers from other universities.
This will help to improve understanding of migration patterns and evaluate the risks of marine developments such as Hinkley Point power station and marine renewables.
Delighted staff, who began tracking fish in 2019, say the funding will allow them to build on and develop their existing work at Swansea and continue working until March 2028.
The bid was supported by more than 30 organisations, including Natural Resources Wales, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, industry and local conservation and fishery groups.
Project Director Dr David Clarke said: “This funding is vitally important to our ongoing research and protection of key species. It will support migration studies looking at movements of acoustically tagged Atlantic salmon, sea trout and twaite shad, which will enable us to understand the risks of marine renewables to these species.
“It will also enable us to develop and refine mitigation techniques – acoustic fish deterrence - to better protect these important natural assets.”
Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “This latest round of awards demonstrates the ambition of the Nature Networks Fund and the importance of connecting people to the natural world on their doorsteps.
“Protecting and strengthening our natural heritage is a key priority for us at the Heritage Fund. To meet the challenges facing our habitats and wildlife we need a sustainable, collaborative approach for nature recovery. We are therefore proud to work alongside the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to deliver the Nature Networks Fund.”