Method for ensuring sedentary habitat for aquatic fish
A method using man-made reef modules in a reservoir section creates a safe habitat for fish, addressing the lack of a functional solution for fish protection by forming a circular trajectory with diverse zones for different life stages, ensuring fish safety and habitat quality.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- RU · RU
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO PROEKTNO-IZYSKATELSKIJ I NAUCHNO-ISSLEDOVATELSKIJ INST GIDROPROEKT IM S YA ZHUKA (AO INST GIDROPROEKT)
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for protecting fish from hydraulic structures do not provide a detailed design and functional solution for a safe place away from the water intake, and often require material- and energy-intensive structures.
Creating a section of the reservoir with varying underwater landscapes using man-made reef modules to form a circular trajectory with zones for different fish life stages, ensuring fish safety by diverting them away from the intake.
Provides a self-sufficient safe habitat for fish, allowing them to remain away from the water intake, enhancing their safety and habitat quality without relying on intensive structures.
Smart Images
Figure 00000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Technical field
[0002] The invention relates to hydraulic engineering and fisheries and can be used to organize a safe place for the settled habitat of ichthyofauna at a distance from the water intake of a hydraulic structure.
[0003] Technology Level
[0004] According to SP 101.23330.2025 “Retaining walls, shipping locks, fish passes and fish protection structures”, fish protection structures are hydraulic structures and (or) devices designed to prevent juvenile and adult fish from entering hydraulic structures and (or) water intake devices and diverting them in a viable state to a safe place in a water body of fishery importance.
[0005] However, this document does not provide a design and functional solution for the safe place created on the reservoir.
[0006] A method for diverting fish from a source of danger is known (RU2305728, priority from 21.02.2006, IPC E02B 8 / 08), which consists of transporting fish in a fish-diverting current from the zone of direct action of a water intake to a safe zone of a fish-inhabited reservoir, and in the section of the fish-diverting current, in which the speed of the latter decreases to values less drifting for the diverted fish, conditions are created for restoring the orientation of the migrating fish, they are kept from re-migrating to the water intake and the independent departure of the fish to a safe place in the fish-inhabited reservoir is organized.
[0007] A known method for ensuring the safety of fish at a pumped storage power plant (RU2346108, priority from 10.04.2007, IPC E02B 8 / 08) is based on the concentration of fish in front of the water intake in a certain zone and their removal from this zone to a safe place in a fish-inhabited reservoir, while the fish in the zone of their concentration are kept throughout the entire period of the pool's drawdown, and are removed to a safe place in the latter during the period of its filling with reverse flow of water through the water intake.
[0008] A known method for protecting fish (RU2788533, priority from 02.02.2022, IPC E02 B 8 / 08), characterized by the fact that they prevent independent entry of fish into the water intake by forming a protective field with a low-intensity electromagnetic source with a shielding device consisting of grounded electrodes, while along the outer contour of the safe section of the water intake zone, a volumetric flow-through fish shelter is installed.
[0009] A common drawback of the methods considered is that they also do not disclose the constructive and functional solution of the safe place.
[0010] The closest to the proposed technical solution is a method for improving the ecological state of a fishery reservoir - a source of water supply with a fish protection structure located in it (RU No. 2834623, priority from 03 / 27 / 2024, IPC E02 B 15 / 00, E02 B 8 / 08), which consists in diverting aquatic organisms protected by a fish protection structure along a fish drain to a safe place in the fishery reservoir - a source of water supply, wherein the safe place includes a fish passage path, which is equipped with elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the form of a set of orderly extended ridges of reef modules developed into the water column and laid in the fishery reservoir - a source of water supply, while the fish passage path on the side remote from the water intake is equipped with an orderly extended ridge shelters that are used for adaptation and prevention of re-entry of viable aquatic organisms into the water intake,leading into the fishery reservoir - the source of water supply, and on the side closer to the water intake, they arrange an additional orderly-extended ridge of hunting ambush sites, which viable aquatic organisms use for habitation and productive fattening on non-viable ichthyofauna and plankton, which from the water intake along the fish outlet of the fish protection structure, using the fish outlet current, are also directed into the fish passage path, and which viable aquatic organisms are processed to a state that does not pose a danger to the ecological state of the environment, and the attractiveness of shelters for viable aquatic organisms leaving along the fish passage path from the mouth of the fish outlet of the fish protection structure is increased in the direction of the fishery reservoir - the source of water supply, and the attractiveness of hunting ambush sites for the viable aquatic organisms living in them is increased towards the mouth of the fish outlet of the fish protection structure, while viable aquatic organisms,protected by a fish protection structure, they are left with a choice: either to remain for feeding in the fish passage, or to go along it from the mouth of the fish outlet of the fish protection structure to the fishery reservoir - the source of water supply, and, on the contrary, the fattening viable aquatic organisms are provided with the opportunity to approach from the fishery reservoir - the source of water supply - along the fish passage to the mouth of the fish outlet of the fish protection structure.
[0011] This method provides a detailed design and functional solution for a safe place. However, it is intended to be used in conjunction with a material- and energy-intensive fish protection structure and its fish outlet.
[0012] At the same time, increasing the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the form of a complex of orderly, extended ridges of reef modules developed into the water column improves the habitat of ichthyofauna in a specially designed safe area—a fish-inhabited reef biotope-oasis, which contributes to a significant increase in its receiving capacity. Furthermore, equipping the safe area with elements that increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape, requiring no maintenance or power supply, and therefore no necessary utilities, ensures its autonomy and self-sufficiency. Therefore, the safe area—a fish-inhabited reef biotope-oasis with increased receiving capacity—can be located not near the water intake and its utilities, but at a safe distance from it, where the water intake current velocities do not yet exceed critical values for the protected fish. This allows the fish to remain in a safe place around the clock, away from the water intake.In turn, this allows the use of a self-sufficient safe place to ensure the safety of aquatic fish separately, without being tied to a fish protection structure and its fish outlet.
[0013] Disclosure of the essence of the invention
[0014] The technical result of the claimed invention is to increase the safety of aquatic fish.
[0015] To achieve the stated technical result, a method for ensuring the safety of fish is used, which consists in selecting a section of the reservoir in which the speed of the water intake flow into the hydraulic structure does not exceed the values that are critical for aquatic fish, at which aquatic fish are carried away by the current, and the selected section of the reservoir is divided into zones for the seasonal habitation of aquatic fish, successively following one another along a circular trajectory, and each zone for the seasonal habitation of aquatic fish is equipped with man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the form of a set of ordered-extended ridges of reef modules developed into the water column, the functional and design features of which in each zone provide for the needs of aquatic fish at the corresponding stages of their life cycle,and the attractiveness of the complex of orderly extended ridges of reef modules developed into the water column with the growth of aquatic fish increases towards the next zone for the seasonal habitation of aquatic fish, and ensures a closed annual life cycle of sedentary habitation of aquatic fish at a safe distance from the water intake of the hydraulic structure.
[0016] A section of the reservoir where the speed of the water intake flow into the hydraulic structure does not exceed the critical values for aquatic fish, at which aquatic fish are carried away by the current, is selected on a bend in the reservoir.
[0017] Zones for the seasonal habitation of aquatic fish in the selected section of the reservoir are placed sequentially along a circular trajectory: a spawning zone, a zone for growing fish larvae to viable stages, a feeding zone and a wintering zone, with a hunting ambush of schooling predatory fish set up downstream from the selected section of the reservoir.
[0018] Each zone for the seasonal habitation of aquatic fish is equipped with man-made elements placed across the water intake current to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the form of a set of orderly extended ridges of reef modules developed into the water column.
[0019] A set of ordered, extended ridges of reef modules, the attractiveness of which increases with the growth of aquatic fish towards the next zone and against the current, are laid obliquely to the intake current.
[0020] Natural spawning substrate and its man-made imitations are used as elements for increasing the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape of the spawning zone.
[0021] Small-sized reef modules, equipped with substrate components proportionate to the larvae and early juveniles of aquatic fish, are used as man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the area where aquatic fish larvae are reared to viable stages.
[0022] Medium-sized reef modules with a large, rough surface, suitable for colonization by food organisms, are used as man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape of the feeding area.
[0023] Multi-tiered large-sized bottom and pelagic reef modules are used as man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape of the wintering zone, and with their help, multi-tiered flowing formation of a false bottom in the water column is ensured.
[0024] As man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape of a hunting ambush of schooling predatory fish, an ordered, extended ridge of large-sized reef modules is used, which together form an extended break in the bottom relief, imitating the parking areas typical for schooling predatory fish.
[0025] Brief description of drawings
[0026] Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the implementation of the method for ensuring the safety of fish.
[0027] The following designations are used in Fig. 1:
[0028] 1 - selected section of the reservoir;
[0029] 2 - spawning area;
[0030] 3 - spawning substrate;
[0031] 4 - zone for growing larvae of aquatic fish to viable stages;
[0032] 5 - a small-sized reef module with substrate details proportionate to larvae and early juveniles of aquatic fish;
[0033] 6 - feeding area;
[0034] 7 - a medium-sized reef module with a large, rough surface, convenient for colonization by food organisms;
[0035] 8 - wintering zone;
[0036] 9 - a circular trajectory of a closed annual life cycle of sedentary habitat and movement of aquatic fish in a selected area of a reservoir;
[0037] 10 - multi-tier large-sized reef module;
[0038] 11 - hunting ambush of schooling predatory fish;
[0039] 12 - large-sized reef module simulating a break in the bottom relief.
[0040] Implementation of the invention
[0041] The stated method for ensuring the safety of fish is carried out by selecting a section of the reservoir in which the speed of the water intake flow into the hydraulic structure does not exceed the critical values for aquatic fish, at which aquatic fish are carried away by the current.
[0042] Since the annual cycle of aquatic fish use of a sedentary habitat requires the presence of all vital zones, each with its own characteristic depth, section 1 of reservoir is selected, for example, in a bend in the reservoir with a clearly defined asymmetric bottom profile, characterized by a gently sloping, extensive shallow area near the convex bank and a steep, deep area near the concave bank. A bend in the reservoir is characterized by a current with transverse circulation, in which surface currents flow toward the convex bank, and bottom currents flow toward the concave bank. The presence of transverse circulation ensures the exchange of oxygen, minerals, and organic matter between the water layers, improving conditions for the sedentary habitat and productive feeding of aquatic fish in the selected section of reservoir 1.
[0043] The selected section of reservoir 1 is used for year-round sedentary habitat for aquatic fish at all stages of their life cycle. Moreover, each seasonal habitat zone in the annual cycle is developed with corresponding elements of the underwater landscape's heterogeneity, which are combined into orderly, extended ridges and placed transversely or obliquely to the intake current.
[0044] Spawning zone 2 is located in shallow coastal waters. Natural aquatic vegetation, pebbles, or other substrate are used as spawning substrate 3. If natural spawning substrate is in short supply, artificial soft or hard imitations of spawning substrate are used. Spawning zone 2 provides natural spawning for aquatic fish, which lay their eggs on spawning substrate 3.
[0045] After the incubation period and hatching, the larvae are safely transported downstream to the rearing zone for aquatic fish larvae up to viable stages 4, which smoothly transitions from spawning zone 2. In zone 4, the larvae and early juveniles are provided with the opportunity to feed and hide from the current and predators in natural shelters - in thickets of aquatic vegetation, or in small-sized man-made reef modules, which are equipped with substrate components proportionate to the larvae and early juveniles of aquatic fish 5, which ensures effective shelter for aquatic fish from danger.
[0046] As the juvenile aquatic fish grow, conditions are created for expanding their habitat, enabling them to migrate along the transverse or oblique ridges of reef modules 5, exit the larval growth zone to viable stages 4, and disperse throughout feeding zone 6. Zone 6 of the selected section of the reservoir is deeper and less vegetated. To provide the juvenile aquatic fish with reliable shelter and food, feeding zone 6 is equipped with medium-sized reef modules 7. These modules not only provide reliable shelter for the juvenile aquatic fish but also have a coarse, rough surface, which is convenient for colonization by food organisms, increasing the food supply of feeding zone 6.
[0047] To stimulate the targeted movement of growing juvenile aquatic fish along the ridges of reef modules 7 from feeding zone 6 towards wintering zone 8, the attractiveness of reef modules 7 towards wintering zone 8 is increased. This ensures the redistribution of grown juvenile aquatic fish by autumn to higher located deeper water areas of feeding zone 6, and by the onset of winter, ensures the exit from zone 6 to wintering zone 8.
[0048] From spawning zone 2 downstream, juvenile aquatic fish are provided with the opportunity to remain in the larval rearing zone until viable stages 4 and then in feeding zone 6, preventing them from migrating downstream. The design of the selected section of the reservoir 1 facilitates the movement of aquatic juvenile fish along transverse or oblique reef ridges, turning away from the convex shore toward deeper sections of feeding zone 6. This is accomplished by using man-made elements to enhance the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape, such as medium-sized reef modules with a coarsely rough surface suitable for colonization by food organisms 7, the attractiveness of which is enhanced toward the next wintering zone 8 and against the current. This ensures the movement of aquatic juvenile fish against the current, and overall, movement along a circular trajectory 9.
[0049] To expand the area of feeding zone 6 and utilize the upper layers of the water column, wintering zone 8 is equipped with large-scale reef modules 10, which are multi-tiered or equipped with pelagic elements to enhance the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape. This significantly expands the distribution range of juvenile aquatic fish and allows them to comfortably inhabit not only feeding zone 6 but also the upper layers of wintering zone 8, using the upper tier of reef modules 10 as a false bottom, simulating a heterogeneous water bottom and providing shelter for juvenile aquatic fish.
[0050] During the pre-winter period, aquatic fish finally populate the deep-water wintering zone 8 of the selected section of the reservoir 1. Since the wintering zone 8 is equipped with multi-tiered large-sized reef modules 10, with the help of which a multi-tiered flowing development into the transit water column of a false bottom simulating the bottom surface is also ensured, then in the wintering zone 8 comfortable conditions are created for the placement and wintering of a large number of aquatic fish.
[0051] At the same time, since the attractiveness of the man-made large-sized reef modules 10 is increased upstream against the current and in the wintering zone 8 the aquatic fish are provided with the opportunity to move both along the orderly-extended ridges of the reef modules 10 and upstream against the current, then by spring the aquatic fish are provided with the opportunity to move upstream from the wintering zone 8 to the upper reaches of the selected section of the reservoir 1. This closes the circular trajectory 9 and provides the opportunity for mature individuals of aquatic fish to move to the spawning zone 2, and for immature individuals of aquatic fish to move to the feeding zone 6.
[0052] At the same time, viable aquatic fish, permanently inhabiting the selected section of reservoir 1, can leave it and undertake extended foraging movements, including downstream to the water intake of the hydraulic structure. To prevent them from entering the water intake of the hydraulic structure downstream of the selected section of reservoir 1, a separate hunting ambush 11 of schooling predatory fish is set up in the form of an orderly, extended ridge of large-sized reef modules 12. Together, they form an extended break in the bottom relief, imitating typical habitats of schooling predatory fish, such as an underwater spit, ridge, or drop-off from shallow to deep water.Schooling predatory fish, sedentary in hunting ambush 11, scare away viable individuals of aquatic fish and return them back to the selected section of the reservoir 1, and dispose of sick and weakened individuals, that is, those no longer competitive and non-viable, ensuring, at the same time, their own fattening, and the improvement and regulation of the ichthyocenosis of the reservoir, and the prevention of aquatic fish from entering the water intake of the hydraulic structure.
[0053] Thus, in the selected section of the reservoir, where the speed of the water intake flow into the hydraulic structure does not exceed the critical values for aquatic fish, at which aquatic fish are carried away by the current, equipped with various man-made elements to increase the heterogeneity of the underwater landscape in the form of reef modules, the functional and design features of which in each of the seasonal habitat zones correspond to the vital needs of aquatic fish at the corresponding stages of the life cycle, and increase the attractiveness towards the next seasonal habitat zone of aquatic fish, a multi-zonal man-made safe place for sedentary habitat of aquatic fish is formed, along which they perform an annual cycle of seasonal movements.At the same time, the exit of viable individuals from a safe place of sedentary habitat of aquatic fish towards the water intake of a hydraulic structure is prevented by schooling predatory fish, sedentary living in a man-made hunting ambush, which is set up on the path of aquatic fish from a selected area to the water intake of a hydraulic structure and, by scaring them away, ensures the return of viable individuals of aquatic fish back to a safe place of their sedentary habitat.
[0054] Therefore, the implementation of a set of measures in a reservoir to create a safe place for the sedentary habitation of aquatic fish and to prevent, with the help of schooling predatory fish, the escape of aquatic fish from a safe place downstream is aimed at preventing aquatic fish from entering the water intake of a hydraulic structure and thereby ensuring the technical result of the claimed invention - increasing the safety of aquatic fish.