On the German side, Bocholter Aa and Issel are the most important source waters of the Oude IJssel in the Netherlands.

In a cross-border research project over the next five years, we want to investigate whether and how fish can migrate in this river system. The focus will be on the fish species eel, ide, asp and catfish as well as the river lamprey. Some of these fish will be caught by anglers and then fitted with acoustic transmitters. Their migration can then be tracked over many months via a network of receiver stations. The information obtained will then be used to derive measures to further improve the river habitat for the fish.

On 25 May 2024, we would like to inform all interested citizens about the project and draw attention to the need for continuous watercourses. Fish from the Bocholter Aa will also be caught using electrofishing and presented to visitors in aquariums. Children and young people can join the FINNE project team on this day to search for small creatures in the water with landing nets and view their catches under a microscope.

On this day, accompanying information events about the “Swimway Oude IJssel” project will take place at two other locations in the Netherlands: In Doetinchem, anglers will catch test animals with a fishing rod and then fit them with acoustic transmitters. The fish window at the fish ladder at the weir in Doesburg will also open its doors. It is hoped that many migratory fish will then be able to be observed live during their ascent.

“Swimway Oude IJssel” is part of the larger Interreg project “De Rijn verbindt – Der Rhein verbindet”