Åby Älvs Nedre FVOF

If the water temperatures are too high, we turn off the water. For more information see our website https://www.abyalven.se/

Åbyälven is a 175 km long forest river with its source flow in Arvidsjaur municipality, Norrbotten. The last 43km are within Västerbotten County. The catchment area of the Åbyälven lies entirely in the forest and is thus not significantly affected by the snowmelt in the mountain range. The catchment area consists of a moraine landscape consisting of coniferous forest and marshlands with a few large tributaries. After the county border until the outlet, the river is surrounded by an increasing proportion of stretches of agricultural land. The lower reaches fall steeper than any other Norrland river and offer a large number of pleasant streams and rapids. The river is classified as a Natura-2000 area and is considered to have a high species richness, key species such as salmon, otter and river pearl mussel are found in the area. You can also find many rare plant species along the river, such as Västerbotten's landscape flower King Karl's spira.

Åbyälven's Lower FVO stretches from the fresh and salt water border at Renholmen's quay up to the suspension bridge in Blåfors. In addition, the lakes Bastusjön, Åbyträsket and Djupsjön are included. In addition to salmon, there are fine stocks of trout, grayling, perch and pike in the river. In the lakes, pike, perch and roach are common species. The main upmigration of salmon in the river takes place during spring and early summer.

Åbyälven's lower FVO has an active board with an operational plan that includes fisheries conservation and work to maintain accessible and pleasant fishing.

The Åbyälv salmon is a naturally self-reproducing salmon strain that is unique by Swedish standards. It has not been exposed to the stocking of other alien salmon strains to the same extent as many other Norrland rivers. This means that the salmon in the river are almost genetically identical to the original Åby River salmon.

Great hopes were placed in the 1990s for a salmon ladder that was built at the Hednäs power plant. The idea was that the salmon would reach fine spawning grounds and breeding grounds upstream of the power plant and also fine areas in Norrbotten County. Unfortunately, there have been problems with the solutions that were made for the up and down migration of fish with the consequence that the population increase of the salmon stock in the Åby River has not occurred. This is the reason why FVO has introduced stricter rules for fishing for salmon than the authorities' general requirements for a salmon-bearing water. We are afraid of our unique salmon strain.