Ottawa's new fish-protection rule for old dams worries Hydro-Québec

Since Thursday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada applies a new fish-protection standard to dams and hydro stations built before Jul 14, 1977. More than half of Hydro-Québec's stations predate it, as do Churchill Falls in Newfoundland and Labrador, Gordon M. Shrum in British Columbia and Kettle in Manitoba.

What the rule asks of dams

• Limit swings in reservoir flow
• Rescue stranded or trapped fish
• Cut fish deaths in the turbines

The standard asks operators to limit swings in reservoir flow, rescue fish left stranded and run turbines so fewer fish are hurt or killed.

Hydropower industry groups call the rule unrealistic and say it could cut production. They ask Ottawa to apply it only to new projects and major refits.

"We can grow our economy through major industrial projects while protecting our ecosystems. I don't think we have to choose between one or the other."

— Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson