As the Chinese economy continues to develop rapidly, a greater demand for energy combined with renewable energy targets are resulting in the construction of hydropower dams at an unprecedented rate. While China supports over 900 species of freshwater fish, fish passes are seldom constructed as the biological knowledge required is typically lacking.

Carp (such as the bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) are of commercial importance in China. However, wild populations have declined dramatically, e.g. the marketable catch of bighead carp in the early 1980s was half that of the mid-1950s. Habitat fragmentation caused by dam construction is considered a key factor causing this decline. Mitigation through the provision of fish passes is increasingly recommended at new dams, yet the lack of historic precedent means design criteria (e.g. based on swimming capability and behaviour) are still in the early stages of development.

To help fill this knowledge gap, research at ICER has quantified the swimming performance of carp using a range of laboratory techniques, including swim chamber endurance trials and volitional passage through velocity barriers. Results from this research will aid in the design of effective fish passes based on both swimming ability and behaviour in species where current understanding is minimal. The research was undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources in Wuhan and the Yichang Three Gorges University, and was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with additional support for international travel provided by the Worldwide Universities Network.

Publications:

Newbold, L.R., Shi, X., Hou, Y., Han, D. & Kemp, P.S. (2016). Swimming performance and behaviour of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis): Application to fish passage and exclusion criteria. Ecological Engineering 95: 690-698.

Newbold, L.R. & Kemp, P.S. (2015). Influence of corrugated boundary hydrodynamics on the swimming performance and behaviour of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Ecological Engineering 82: 112-120.

People:

Dr Lynda Newbold

Prof Paul Kemp