LIFE Nature project "Living Space of Danube Salmon"

The LIFE Nature project "Living Space of Danube Salmon" aims at specific measures to improve the habitat quality under the conservational obligation to directive 92/43/EWG for one of the most threatened fish species of Europe, the Danube Salmon (Hucho hucho). The project area includes the middle and lower section of river Pielach, the lower section of river Melk and the lower section of river Mank, which is the most important tributary of river Melk. These populations are highly dependent on spawning areas of the project area, which shall be connected with the Danube. These population suffer from the disconnection of their traditional spawning areas, which are situated in the tributaries Pielach, Melk and Mank. Objectives are the opening of river continuum and connection of rivers with the stream reach of Danube, the improvement and conservation of the last dynamic reaches of Pielach (meandering sections) and the control of project success with a monitoring program. The HFA-BOKU is integrated in the strategic planning of the project and responsible for the ecological monitoring programme.