Frederic Casals

Universitat de Lleida | UDL · Department of Animal Science

LIFE INVASAQUA. Aquatic Invasive Alien Species of Freshwater and Estuarine Systems: Awareness and Prevention in the Iberian Peninsula Coordinator The Portuguese and Spanish societies have very limited understanding about the threats of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in aquatic ecosystems. This lack of knowledge and awareness about IAS problems hampers any management policy proposed by public administration and stakeholders, contributing to missing IAS management strategy, particularly for IAS that do not affect human health or major economic interests. LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE / ES / 000515) seeks to reduce the introduction and spread of IAS in the Iberian Peninsula by increasing public and stakeholder awareness through information, communication and training campaigns, and by developing key tools to improve an early warning and rapid response (EWRR) framework for new IAS in freshwater and estuarine habitats. • LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515) is an Environmental Governance and Information project co-financed by the European LIFE Program • PROJECT LOCATION: Iberian Peninsula. • DATE: 1 Nov 2018 - 31 October 2023 • TOTAL BUDGET: M 3,1 € • COORDINATOR: Universidad de Murcia • PARTNERS: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Spain), Universidad de Navarra (Spain), Universidade de Évora (Portugal), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Sociedad Ibérica de Ictiología (Spain, Portugal), Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza y los Recursos Naturales (Spain), Associação Portuguesa de Educação Ambiental (Portugal), Agencia EFE (Spain). For more information please visit http://www.lifeinvasaqua.com/en/

Task 1: Effect-based monitoring studies of the direct and indirect effects of hydrological alteration and metal pollution on freshwater fish. Task 2: Effects of hydrologic alteration, pollution and their interaction on fish abundance and distribution. Task 3: Laboratory experiments on the effects of heavy metal pollution on the ecophysiological response of a native fish (Barbus meridionals). Task 4: Relationships between hydrological alteration, critical swimming speed and life-history stategies in fish A project held by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ref: CGL2016-80820-R) Lead researchers: Helena Guasch (helena.guasch@udg.edu) and Anna Vila-Gispert (anna.vila@udg.edu)

LIFE MIGRATOEBRE project is a best practices and a demonstration project for final stretches of major European Rivers, focused on long-term sustainable investments in Natura 2000 sites and on species and habitats targeted by Habitats Directive conservation, at local and regional levels. The project is based on the implementation of mitigation measures in relation to rivers hydromorphology improvement, especially on rivers ecological connectivity and fish passage issues associated by the Water Framework Directive and the European Eel Recovery Plan (Regulation 1100/2007). The main objectives of the LIFE MIGRATOEBRE project are the conservation of the endangered anadromous fish species (European sturgeon, European eel, twait shad and sea lamprey) and the restoration of the Ebre River ecological connectivity through the interconnection of natural areas included in the Natura 2000 network. The specific objectives of the project are: 1. Recover healthy and sustainable populations of migratory fish species -European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), twaite shad (Alosa fallax) and sea lamprey (Petromizon marinus)- within 20-30 years in the lower Ebre river and delta. 2. Significantly improve the ecological connectivity of the lower Ebre river, adapting all the present obstacles of the final stretch (Xerta’s weir, Ascó’s weir and Flix dam) to allow fish migration (upstream and downstream); increasing more than tenfold the river spawning habitat availability for European sturgeon, twaite shad and sea lamprey, and the distribution (and growth) area for European eel. 3. Involve community and a net of nature managers, farmers, fishermen, anglers, water managers, electric companies, tourism stakeholders, regional and local authorities working together on migratory fish recovery and improved ecological management in the final stretch of the Ebre river, on long-term sustainable investments in Natura 2000 sites on conservation of species and habitats targeted by Habitats Directive. 4. Be an exemplary project at local scale, and progressivelly to integrally promote the improvement of the ecological connectivity at the Ebre river basin. I. e. In a second stept, at Riba-roja dam -to connect the lower Ebre with an important tributary, the Segre River- and Mequinença dam -to connect the lower Ebre with the middle Ebre basin-. And also to become a demonstration project by other principal Iberian –Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Miño- and some European Rivers as well. More information at: www.migratoebre.eu