Review of fishway research in China

Fishways play an increasingly important role in restoring free passages in rivers for aquatic organisms, especially fishes. Effective fishway operations are the prerequisite for the restoration of fragmented habitats. Research has shown that most existing fishways in China are not functioning correctly. In order to facilitate the successful operation of fishways, this paper discusses several key issues, such as swimming capabilities and behaviors of migratory fishes, fishway entrance position and structure type, downstream migration, and fishway siltation. In addition, the author provides directions for future fishway research in China.