Barrier Mitigation

Under the Water Action Plan 2024, Inland Fisheries Ireland is tasked with establishing a restoration programme to mitigate the negative effects of past construction in our waterbodies. Removing barriers to fish migration, will ensure ecological improvements in the river ecosystems through structured, collaborative, and strategic approaches to barrier mitigation.

A new division called The Barrier Mitigation Division has been established to implement a comprehensive, collaborative approach to mitigating barriers, supported by expert project management, stakeholder engagement and funding schemes to ensure delivery of the National Barriers Mitigation Programme in line with the actions outlined in the Water Action Plan 2024.

Programme Details

Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Barrier Mitigation Programme (NBMP) is working to reconnect Ireland’s rivers by mitigating and removing man-made barriers that impact fish migration, water quality, biodiversity, and hydromorphology. The NBMP aims to increase the habitat available for migratory fish and restore natural sediment processes in rivers that provide important habitats for a range of native species. The NBMP was formed in response to Ireland’s most recent River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), the Water Action Plan 2024, which set out the action Hymo 3: “IFI will establish a restoration programme to mitigate the negative impact of past construction in or near rivers”. In addition to supporting the aims of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), the NBMP aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the new Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) which aim to restore rivers across Europe to a free-flowing state. As part of this mission, a new Barrier Mitigation Funding Scheme will launch on May 14th, offering financial support to projects that align with NBMP goals.