Due to migrating fish, small hydroelectric power stations, dams and dams will have to be demolished

Currently, there are more than 140 small hydroelectric power plants on more than 12,500 Latvian rivers. Although they produce clean energy, improve the surrounding landscape and provide good recreational opportunities in many places, including fishing, small hydropower plants will have to reduce their environmental impact following scandals involving illegal payments of the compulsory purchase component required by the European Union. Union (EU) and the conclusion of environmental experts that such structures disrupt the natural ecosystem of rivers, blocking the passage of fish.

In neighboring Estonia, for example, the state issued an ultimatum to the owners of economic facilities on rivers – either demolish them or build fish passages, allocating the necessary funding for this.

There is no direct EU requirement to remove small hydropower plants or other dams on rivers, but a number of EU norms and policy documents require that, in order to achieve their goals, the impact of obstacles on rivers must be reduced and their free flow restored.

The Ministry of Agriculture reported that funding is available under the instrument “Improving the quality of fish habitat” under the fisheries development program of the European Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for 2021-2027. The total funding is 2 million euros.

There is no separate funding for the construction of fish passage structures for small hydroelectric power plants, but if the terms of the program are met, funds can be used for these purposes.