At Whooshh Innovations, we believe solving modern aquatic challenges requires innovation that bridges technology and ecology. Our fish transport system represents a game-changing solution for sustainable river connectivity and aquaculture management. Designed to minimize stress, improve efficiency, and protect biodiversity, it supports large-scale fish transfer operations in hydropower, hatchery, and restoration settings. By combining pneumatic transport with artificial intelligence, we’re revolutionizing how native species survive, and thrive, within working river systems.
The Growing Need for Smarter Aquatic Connectivity
Across the globe, thousands of rivers remain fragmented by dams and infrastructure that restrict fish migration. Traditional fish ladders, nets, and manual relocation systems have struggled to keep pace with today’s complexities. The fish transport system developed by Whooshh Innovations answers this global challenge through a selective, humane approach designed for both upstream recovery and downstream survival.
According to the FAO, more than 3 million dams worldwide obstruct natural fish movement, causing habitat loss and contributing to population declines. Fragmented habitats weaken species adaptation and genetic diversity, impacting not just ecosystems but also economies dependent on sustainable fisheries. Reconnecting these waterways, without compromising hydropower or conservation priorities, demands a solution built for real-world resilience.
Engineering Innovation That Moves with Nature
Our next-generation pneumatic systems, including the TUber™ and SalmonCannon™, use controlled air pressure and misted environments to glide fish through flexible tubes safely and quickly. Through five years of development and field research, our engineers achieved the impossible, making fish transfer safe, selective, and scalable.
Unlike conventional suction or pumping methods, which can injure fish or deplete oxygen, our systems generate gentle propulsion, ensuring a moist, low-pressure ride. A single MigratorTube™ can carry fish hundreds of feet vertically, reducing handling time and improving post-transport survival rates. SINTEF Research confirmed that stress indicators in fish transported via pneumatic tubes are significantly lower compared to traditional methods. The result is movement without injury, data without disruption, and sustainability without compromise.
Learn more about this pioneering engineering at Whooshh TUber™ Product Overview.
Merging Efficiency with Fish Welfare
At its heart, the Whooshh TUber™ prioritizes what matters most, speed, safety, and welfare. The system significantly reduces fish contact with human handlers and exposure to harmful conditions such as sunlight, air, or contaminated water. What this means for operators is clear: reduced mortality, minimal disease transmission, and faster turnaround times with fewer personnel required.
Compared to manual netting or truck-based transport, our solution not only costs less over time but also promotes long-term operational sustainability. The TUber™ can transport up to 40 fish per minute (over 50,000 per day) with virtually zero physical impact, according to validated field data. Real-time monitoring ensures managers receive accurate data on species, quantity, and condition during every trip, blending science into daily operations with effortless precision.
This integration between machine and biology defines a new category in aquatic management where welfare and productivity coexist.
Balancing Energy Production and Ecological Restoration
Global hydropower and irrigation projects face a persistent dilemma, how to sustain renewable energy and water supply without destabilizing ecosystems. The fish transport system removes this conflict by improving fish passage through tall and complex barriers while preserving operational output.
At the Chief Joseph Dam demonstration, the Passage Portal proved capable of moving salmon over 200 feet vertically in seconds. When compared to fish ladders costing tens of millions of dollars and requiring years to permit and build, the portable Whooshh system achieved commissioning in less than six months. By integrating minimal infrastructure and adaptive deployment, facilities can upgrade ecological performance while maintaining their efficiency metrics.
Regulatory compliance also becomes easier. Automated scanning and reporting functionality allow fishery managers to measure passage success while verifying protection standards to agencies, ensuring projects meet both scientific and legal requirements.
Real-World Impact and Global Applications
Whooshh systems are now operational across North America, Scandinavia, and Canada, empowering nations to restore iconic migratory fish species while enhancing production efficiency. Case studies from the Yakama Nation Fisheries demonstrate up to 85% improvement in transport success and substantial reductions in mortality among spawning fish.
In British Columbia, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans partnered with Whooshh Innovations during an emergency deployment at Big Bar, where a landslide blocked salmon migration. The pneumatic transport system restored access in just three months, a timeline unmatched by traditional alternatives.
The technology continues to evolve as an adaptable tool used in many situations, from hatchery broodstock transfer to moving fish across natural obstructions. Modular components allow users to customize installation for rivers, aquaculture facilities, or research needs, minimizing environmental footprints and maximizing adaptability.
As detailed by Global Seafood Alliance, Whooshh’s approach has become “a key instrument for ensuring that fish migration and aquatic productivity advance in tandem with modern industry.”
Final Thoughts: Building the Future of Sustainable Migration
At Whooshh Innovations, we envision a world where water infrastructure and wildlife thrive side by side. We believe sustainability should never be an afterthought, it should be engineered into every decision we make. Our commitment to practical, data-driven solutions ensures that each installation delivers measurable ecological and economic value.
The fish transport system is more than technology, it’s a philosophy. It stands for smarter resource management, fewer compromises, and a dynamic new path toward restoring Earth’s aquatic balance. Collaborating with our partners across industries, we continue to prove that efficiency and conservation are strongest when they swim together.