Our migration comes to an end
World Fish Migration Foundation will be terminated by the end of 2024
It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to shut down the World Fish Migration Foundation by 31 December 2024. Our financial position brought us to this conclusion, and we did not want to put more stress on our team. We are very proud of our achievements and milestones as the initiator and coordinator of Dam Removal Europe, World Fish Migration Day, Free Flow Conference and dozens of national seminars and webinars. We developed and inspired a true global movement who are connecting fish, rivers and people! World Fish Migration Day is one of the best things that I have started in my life, together with Pao Fernández Garrido, Kerry Brink, Joshua Royte, Bart Geenen and Jeroen van Herk. I’m so proud to see that you all saw the power of being part of this international awareness event. Thousands of organisations are involved and are celebrating the importance of migratory fish and healthy rivers. These events have one thing in common: the combination of learning, fun and the feeling that people are part of something bigger. Over the past 10 years, we were able to transform the landscape of river restoration in Europe and influenced both national and European policies. We started a proud international movement committed to keeping rivers safe, free-flowing and healthy. And the movement is you! Thinking big and acting local. This has been a true team effort. We are all in this together and supporting each other in our respective roles. With this energy, it’s possible to make impossible projects happen. Who knows – we might see a dam removal project like the Klamath River (USA) in Europe in the near future. Our staff are moving on to new roles; some will join partner organisations, while others have already transitioned to the European Open Rivers Programme. These have been 10 incredible years, filled with countless highlights and inspiring new connections. One standout team achievement is the inclusion of a free-flowing river target in the European Nature Restoration Law, with dam removal specifically highlighted as a key solution. The scene is set and now all members states can move forward. The work is far from being done. There are still around 150,000 outdated and obsolete barriers to overcome. We are just getting started, and Dam Removal is here to stay. We thank all our sponsors, subsidy providers and donors who were so generous to support us financially through all the years. Nationale Postcode Loterij Sportvisserij Nederland U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Mulago USDA Forest Service WWF Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL) The Nature Conservancy Waterloo Foundation Arcadia Foundation Fred Foundation and dozens of companies who supported our events. Keep flowing free! On behalf of our amazing WFMF team,
