Raasakka’s Fishheart fishway
The hydraulic Fishheart fishway in Raasakka on the Iijoki River supports Pohjolan Voima's efforts to promote biodiversity. The restoration of migratory fish and hydropower production can be reconciled.
Fishheart will be in use in Raasakka from 2023 to 2025. Valuable research data will be obtained on its functionality, as the Finnish innovation Fishheart is now being used for the first time at the lowest power plant on a river flowing into the sea, where, for example, salmon can ascend directly from the sea. This research data will help develop various migratory fish solutions and their compatibility in the future.
The Fisheart fishway will be removed from the river for the winter.
Fishheart fish counter statistics for the year 2024.
Diagram shows the total number of fish in the Fishheart during June – September.
The goal of the broad-based cooperation is to develop the natural cycle of migratory fish through:
- An upstream migration solution for the lowest power plant in Raasakka and a downstream migration route for the highest power plant in Haapakoski. The Finlands first downstream migration route is already in use in Haapakoski. And we are testing Fisheart fisway at Raasakka as an upstream migration solution.
- The development of the migratory fish population is supported by the planting of eggs and juveniles, as well as transfers past the power plants.
- In Raasakka, there are several options for upstream migration. The main goal of the joint Iijoki vision has been a technical fishway for the Raasakka power plant. As part of the overall project, we are gaining experience with the functionality of the Fishheart fishway in Raasakka.
- Each power plant is different, so progress would benefit form researched information from the results of the previous phase.
Operating principle of the Fishheart fishway
Flow guides fish to Fishheart
The attraction flow of Fishheart guides fish to the mouth of Fishheart. The location of Fishheart near the power plant can be changed and optimized based on observations and experiences.
Artificial intelligence identifies fish
Intelligent equipment with cameras identifies the fish that have swum into Fishheart. Real-time data is collected on the number and species of fish.
Fish move over the dam
In Fishheart, fish move hydraulically through the pipeline over the dam to the upper reservoir without injury. Some are transferred to a container and further to the upper part of Haapakoski to continue their migration.
