Story 1 min

Exploring efficient fish passage: monitoring fish using AI

To determine whether the fish passage works efficiently, Vattenfall initiated a project to test how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to monitor the effectiveness of fishways.

Short facts

Stornorrfors hydropower plant, Northern Sweden
Salmon and trout
Efficient fish passage and monitor fish population health
Continuous

An AI algorithm was developed and trained on a substantial image dataset to directly analyse images of migratory fish.

Fish in the fish ladder in Stornorrfors hydro power plant

The AI-based fish recognition system is deployed at the fish ladder in the Stornorrfors hydropower plant in northern Sweden, where it counts and registers attributes of individual salmon and trout. The algorithm has been progressively refined each season and now provides real-time fish monitoring data through an online dashboard.

The latest enhancement allows for measuring the size of fish, and during 2025 we initiated tests to develop pattern recognition to identify individuals and assess the health of the fish population by identifying fish diseases such as fungi and parasites, as well as damage caused by predators such as seals and birds. The collected data also offer insights into the migratory behaviour of the fish, such as swimming patterns, group dynamics, and gender identification.

By analysing this data, assertions can be made about the state of the fish population and strategies for its improvement can be devised.

More about biodiversity

Biodiversity and nature protection are a priority at Vattenfall. It is one of the focus areas in our environmental policy and therefore also a central part in our environmental work.