Development and distribution of the Fishcon lock, a space-saving fish migration aid with optional hydropower utilization

Fishcon GmbH

Linz, AustriaNew on Amplifa

2018Founded

Bernhard MayrhoferManagement

Linz, AustriaHeadquarters

7 systems in operation, 8 underReference systems

About Fishcon

Fishcon GmbH, based in Linz (Upper Austria), was founded in 2018 by Bernhard Mayrhofer and develops and distributes the patented Fishcon lock, a 2-chamber organism migration aid for fish and small organisms. The compactly designed lock enables upstream and downstream connectivity at weirs, ramps, flood protection structures and hydropower plants, and can additionally generate electrical energy from hydropower. The system is modular in design, requires little space and is implemented in a resource-conserving manner. Fishcon handles the complete project management, from the free site and feasibility assessment through planning to coordination and implementation with partner companies such as K. u. F. Drack; collaboration with external planning offices is possible. The technology was developed from 2016 to 2020 together with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Graz University of Technology and K. u. F. Drack, is scientifically tested and has been assessed several times as fully functional with grades of "very good" and "good". Fishcon is certified and an IÖB partner for public projects; systems are located in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Site: Linz
Processes: Fishcon lock (2-chamber organism migration aid) – planning, development, project management incl., Restoring river connectivity (fish migration aid upstream/downstream) with hydraulic, Sustainable electrical energy generation (hydropower utilization) with fish migration aid, Implementation with partner companies (manufacture/installation of Fishcon lock, e.g. with KFD), Turbine development (hydropower), Project management from site and feasibility assessment to implementation, Free site assessment, On-site consulting
Materials: Fishcon lock (2-chamber organism migration aid), Hydraulic Interconnection
Certificates: IÖB partnership (Innovations for Public Procurement), Scientific functionality testing (BOKU Vienna, 2017)
Founded: 2018
Industries: Hydropower, Flood protection, Weir and ramp operators, Environmental/water protection

01
Free site and feasibility assessment
02
On-site consulting
03
Planning and engineering
04
Implementation with partner companies
05
Commissioning and monitoring

Technology and Design

2-Kammern-Prinzip

Fishcon lock (2-chamber organism migration aid)

Compact, hydraulically interconnected lock for upstream and downstream migration of fish and small organisms at transverse structures.

Hydraulik

Hydraulic Interconnection

Enables migration in both directions at weirs, ramps and hydropower plants.

Location

Linz

Headquarters: sales and development of fish migration aids and hydropower plants

Lot size: Individual systems (project business)
Materials: Fish migration aids, hydropower technology

Systems and Components

**Fishcon lock (2-chamber organism migration aid)**Modular production with partner companies · Hydropower, weirs, water protection

Inside the production

Greenstar TOP 3 of the Climate and Energy Fund 2017

Industries

HydropowerFlood protectionWeir and ramp operatorsEnvironmental/water protection

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Fishcon lock (2-chamber organism migration aid) – planning, development, project management incl.Engineering	–	–	–	–	–
Restoring river connectivity (fish migration aid upstream/downstream) with hydraulicEngineering	–	–	–	–	–
Sustainable electrical energy generation (hydropower utilization) with fish migration aidEngineering	–	–	–	–	–
Implementation with partner companies (manufacture/installation of Fishcon lock, e.g. with KFD)Assembly	–	–	–	–	–
Turbine development (hydropower)Engineering	–	–	–	–	–

Additional services

Project management from site and feasibility assessment to implementationFree site assessmentOn-site consultingCooperation with planning offices and partner companiesEnergy generation (hydropower) with the Fishcon lockInternational distribution via sales partners

Reference customers

KPL (hydropower plant on the Alm)K. u. F. Drack (KFD)University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaGK Wasserkraft (Cortébert)

Quality and Certification

The technology was tested according to the current Austrian guideline and assessed several times as fully functional with grades of "very good" and "good" by an independent body; three systems received positive monitoring results in 2024. Fishcon is certified and an IÖB partner for public projects.

Evidence	Linz
IÖB partnership (Innovations for Public Procurement)
Scientific functionality testing (BOKU Vienna, 2017)

Milestones

2015
Idea for a new fish migration aid
2016
Patent granted in Austria; start of development with BOKU Vienna, TU Graz and K. u. F. Drack
2017
Technology successfully examined by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna; Greenstar TOP 3 of the Climate and Energy Fund
2018
Founding of Fishcon GmbH by Bernhard Mayrhofer; 2nd place in the i2B business plan competition
2019
European patent granted; implementation on the Aschach arm; start of turbine development with TU Graz; Edison Gold
2020
Functionality of both pilot systems demonstrated; market launch; 2nd place Allianz Environmental Award
2021
Included in the Austrian guideline for the construction of fish migration aids
2022
First international sales partners won; further Fishcon locks implemented
2023
First Fishcon lock in Germany and two further systems in Austria implemented
2024
Three further Fishcon locks with positive monitoring results