CCP Gransden recently completed a repair on the fish counting facility at Portna, near Kilrea, helping to maintain an essential piece of infrastructure used by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). AFBI conducts scientific research and provides expert advice to government on agriculture, food safety, and environmental sustainability, with a strong focus on the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
AFBI closely monitors freshwater fish stocks, and their facility at Portna on the River Bann, tracks the number of salmon returning to spawn each year. The Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland winding its way from the southeast corner to the northwest coast of Ulster.
This fish counter includes a submerged GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) tube that houses three electrodes around its inner circumference. When fish pass through the tube, their movement generates a resistivity signal recorded by a data logger. This data is vital for monitoring the health of Northern Ireland's fish populations, with up to 20,000 fish recorded annually migrating upriver through this section.
After more than 10 years in operation, the GRP tube, employed for its corrosion resistance, required refurbishment to continue functioning effectively. CCP Gransden was asked to repair the tube, ensuring the facility could continue collecting accurate data.