Darley Abbey Fish Pass

Project Type

Project Catchment

Date

2013

A wilder weir - Darley Abbey fish pass restores natural heritage in industrial heartlands

The Derwent Valley in Derbyshire is internationally famous for its industrial heritage, reliant upon many historic mills and weirs. These engineered structures put other beneficiaries of the Derwent’s might at risk. Salmon, trout, eel and other coarse fish species struggled to complete their life-cycles, as the speeding up of the industrial revolution meant more and more barriers for the fish. Darley Abbey weir, a key UNESCO-protected site outside of Derby, marks industrial progress and a permanent halt to fish migration journeys-until the Darley Abbey fish pass came along. A pioneering project, designed to prove that fish migration and industrial heritage can strike a compromise and that parts of our natural heritage can be restored.