New fish ladder in Hermagor: A milestone for nature!

New fish ladder in Hermagor: A milestone for nature!

On November 7, 2025, the new fish ladder on the Gössering was ceremoniously opened in Hermagor. With a symbolic ribbon cutting, Mayor DI Leopold Astner and other prominent guests from politics and administration gave the starting signal for the important project for sustainable water management and revitalization of the Mühlbach. This body of water had dried up for about ten years after citizens' initiatives and signature campaigns to have it converted were unsuccessful.

The newly installed fish ladder now makes it possible for the fish to pass through blocked sections of the river and continue their migration. This is of great ecological importance as the rivers act as habitats for fish and other aquatic life. DI Hannes Poglitsch from the Hermagor water management company explained the technical details of the project, which helps to remove centuries-old obstacles for the fish on their way to the spawning grounds in the Gitschtal.

Technical details and funding

The facility includes a 110 meter long canal with 15 pools that can overcome a height difference of four meters. Around 240 liters of water per second are taken from the Gössering, with an additional 300 liters being made available to flood the Mühlbach. The entire project was realized with a budget of around 800,000 euros, with 98 percent of the costs being covered by the federal government, the state of Carinthia and the biodiversity fund. The municipality of Hermagor only covers two percent of the total costs, which keeps the financial burden on the municipality low.

The construction work to implement this project took place from May to October 2025 and the schedule was successfully adhered to. During the official handover, numerous guests were present who paid tribute to the previous planning and implementation process. In his speech, State Councilor Daniel Fellner emphasized the social and ecological responsibility that comes with the establishment of such water structures.

Importance for the region and beyond

The project not only promotes biodiversity in the region, but is also a step towards practical water protection and sustainable water management. It pursues a similar mission Fundacion Chinquihue in Chile, which focuses on supporting the artisanal fishing sector. The focus here is on improving the socio-economic situation of fishermen and ensuring environmentally friendly practices in aquaculture. Fundación Chinquihue's activities are diverse and include, among other things, education, research and marketing.

The opening of the fish ladder in Hermagor is therefore not just a locally rooted project, but part of a global awareness of the preservation and enhancement of aquatic habitats. The initiative is being implemented by the municipality of Hermagor-Pressegger See in collaboration with several funding agencies, which further underlines the importance of the project. This measure could serve as a model for other similar projects in other regions that take the protection of their waters and biodiversity seriously.