The Biodiversity Strategy adopted in May 2020 and its implementation will be crucial to reverse the negative trends in aquatic biodiversity loss. At the same time, the pressure of hydropower dams on Europe’s rivers is immense and keeps growing every year, with more than 20,000 existing plants and more than 8,000 additional ones being planned. Dams and hydropower plants are identified as one of the major threats to aquatic biodiversity, because of their well-documented impact on water ecosystems. 

The event will discuss the Biodiversity Strategy roll-out and action plan in relation to European rivers, the implementation and enforcement of the Water Framework Directive, the impact of hydropower on European rivers, and the removal of dams.

Before the summer break, the RecFishing Forum hosted its first webinar on angling tourism, co-chaired by MEP Niclas Herbst and MEP Grace O’Sullivan. Panellists and more than 50 participants discussed the potential of angling tourism for a green recovery of the sector.

The need for better data on recreational fisheries was also recalled by several participants. The event was the occasion to present several examples of angling tourism projects such as Sea Trout Funen in Denmark, highlighting the compatibility between tourism activities and environment protection and restoration.