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First juvenile Allis shad records in Lower Rhine for more than 50 years

For the first time since more than 50 years, in september 2010 juvenile allis shad were found to migrate downstream of the river Rhine, in which the species was considered as being extinct from the 1940 years onwards.

The downstream migration, which regularly occurs in late summer, is part of the diadromous life-cycle of the allis shad, and aims on reaching feeding habitats in the Sea, from where the adults are expected to return for spawning after three to five years.

First juvenile Allis shad for more than 50 years Photo: Dr. Stefan Staas, Rheinfischereigenossenschaft NRW

More than ten of the young anadromous fish were recently caught by a professional fisherman, who closely cooperates with the migratory fish programme in Northrine-Westphalia. Due to their marking, which was conducted by the French project partners prior to stocking, the juvenile shads could be proven to originate from the stocking of larval shads as being part of the allis shad project.

These findings underline the projects success, since they demonstrate that, although massive anthropogenic pressures acting on the Rhine in the course of allis shad's disappearance from the river system, the young shads are still able to utilise suitable habitats and to grow fantastic.

 

Photo right: First juvenile Allis shad for more than 50 years; Photo: Dr. Stefan Staas, Rheinfischereigenossenschaft NRW [ Enlarge photo ]

 

Allis Shad Exhibit, 2008

Creation of the allis shad specimen Photograph: P. Beeck .       Press conference at the exhibit Photograph: E. Finke .

Already last year there was a special exhibit in the Aquazoo in Düsseldorf about allis shad and the traditions of shad fishing. More than 120,000 visitors to the Aquazoo were able to become informed about the project there.

This year the exhibit was upgraded once again. The Aquazoo's taxidermist, Renée Lavalette prepared a deceptively authentic looking specimen of an adult allis shad and for the first time anywhere in Europe, living allis shad were on display in an aquarium exhibit.

Photo left: Creation of the allis shad specimen Photograph: P. Beeck [ Enlarge photo ]
Photo right: Press conference at the exhibit Photograph: E. Finke [ Enlarge photo ]

 

Working together for healthy waters: "allis shad sponsorships" for children

The first allis shad stock in Düsseldorf was accompanied by an environmental education programme for school classes. The Stiftung Wasserlauf (Watercourse Foundation) in cooperation with the Aquazoo Löbbecke issued allis shad sponsorships and was able to obtain funding from the Düsseldorf Community Foundation and the Rheinbahn AG.

The 6th class (year 7) of the Agnes-Miegel-Realschule learnt more about the background of the allis shad project in a multi-media presentation and visited the new allis shad exhibit in the Aquazoo. Dr. Elmar Finke, Head of the Education Department of the Aquazoo, conducted a Rhine excursion which enabled the students to familiarise themselves with the diverse species in the Rhine. Further highlights of the allis shad sponsorship programme were trawler fishing in the Rhine and the return of the young allis shad to the wild in the presence of the Minister of the Environment.

 

The first allis shad released in the Rhine

The first allis shad stock in the Rhine. From the left: Project coordinator Dr. Peter Beeck, Wilhelm Dietzel, the Minister of the Environment of Hesse, the French Consul General from Düsseldorf, Gilles Thibault, and  Eckhard Uhlenberg, the Minister of the Environment of North Rhine Westphalia.  Photograph: E. Braun .

On 24 June, 2008, the time had come. On the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf-Oberkassel, the North Rhine Westphalia Minister of the Environment, Eckhard Uhlenberg, and his colleague from Hesse, Wilhelm Dietzel released the first allis shad in the Rhine in a big media event. This year, more than 500,000 allis shad in total were exposed to the previously mapped areas in North Rhine Westphalia and Hesse.

Image: Release of the allis shad by the Minister of the Environment Photograph: H. Schulze-Wiehenbrauck [ Enlarge photo ]
Image: The first allis shad stock in the Rhine. From the left: Project coordinator Dr. Peter Beeck, Wilhelm Dietzel, the Minister of the Environment of Hesse, the French Consul General from Düsseldorf, Gilles Thibault, and Eckhard Uhlenberg, the Minister of the Environment of North Rhine Westphalia. Photograph: E. Braun [ Enlarge photo ]

 

Didson

Within the scope of the Life Project, the use of Didson (DUAL FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION SONAR) sonar was tested for application in allis shad monitoring and fundamental research. This high-performance sonar was originally developed for military use and is being used increasingly in fisheries research. The big advantage compared to traditional sonar devices consists of the fact that this device can also record underwater video images in extremely muddy waters and in this way, also, the shape of the fish and its behaviour pattern can be detected ("acoustic camera"). Dr. Marc Schmidt of the Fischereiverband NRW e.V. and the Landesfischereiverband Westfalen und Lippe e.V. is overseeing the project which is also financed by the North Rhine Westphalia fishing tax, whereby, among other things, the possibilities of using it in the area of fish monitoring and fisheries management are being investigated.

Allis shad have a particularly well-developed sense of hearing and can also perceive high-frequency sound waves. There was information that certain species of allis shad, demonstrate flight reaction when Didson sonar is used. For this reason, the behaviour of adult allis shad in a rearing tank when Didson Sonar was switched on was investigated. During all kinds of experiments, the animals displayed no kind of flight reaction whatsoever and some of them lingered for a long time in the system's sonic cone. Therefore, the use of this new sonar seems possible for the monitoring of allis shad in potential spawning areas, for example.

Image: Allis shad in Didson sonar [ Enlarge photo ]
Image: Experimental Didson sonar set up. The allis shad are under the covering in the rearing tank. Photograph: P. Beeck [ Enlarge photo ]

 

The Return of the Allis Shad -
Now Available: The Life Project Video

After numerous days and hours of filming in France, Holland and Germany in the early part of summer 2007, the 18-minute video film by nature and animal documentary film maker Jens Oliver about the Life Project is now available for ordering.

The film reports on the content of the project in enthralling and impressive images. It talks about the traditions and techniques of allis shad fishing in Germany and France and covers the long and hard journey the huge rock herrings have to embark on as they travel from the ocean to their river spawning grounds.

In never before seen pictures you will get insights into the farm raising facilities for allis shads in France. The documentary is easy to understand for viewers who previously knew nothing about the project. The objective is to familiarize every citizen who wants to learn more about it with the aim of this international project. An English and French version of the documentary will be available by mid November.

 

Order your complimentary copy of the video from the Life Project project management team !

 

The allis shad exhibit at the Aquazoo ends on a high note

More than 115,000 visitors were drawn to the Aquazoo Düsseldorf from May to August 2007 to see the special EU Project exhibit.

Richly illustrated educational boards explained the contents of the project and described the unusual life of the long distance travelling fish. Interesting displays, such as allis shad eggs, larvae and baby fish as well as special shad lures for anglers completed the exhibition.

A particular focus was placed on the historical importance of allis shad fishing in Düsseldorf and in the Lower Rhine region. Just 100 years ago, thousands of these fish were caught year after year and served as delicacies at the brewery restaurants.

Photo top: Special exhibition of the EU Allis Shad Project at the Aquazoo Düsseldorf [ Enlarge Photo ]
Photo bottom: Thousands of fish were caught every year and served at the brewery restaurants. [ Enlarge Photo ]

 

Allis Shad Symposium in Düsseldorf on 6 June 2007

The official kick-off for the new EU Life Project on the Re-introduction of allis shad in the Rhine System was on 6 June 2007 in the Aquazoo in Duesseldorf. The district president Helmut Diegel opened the Symposium which was attended by all relevant Fisheries organizations and universities of North Rhine Westphalia and project partners from Hessen and France.

Introductions were given by the district president Helmut Diegel, Dr. Elmar Finke (Aquazoo), Dr. Heiner Klinger (Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW), Walter Sollbach (Fisheries Association and directors board of the Stiftung Wasserlauf), Dr. Peter Beeck (Project management, Stiftung Wasserlauf), Dr. Hartwig Schulze-Wiehenbrauck (Ministry of Environment, North Rhine Westphalia) and Ingrid Rudolph (Ministry of Environment, North Rhine Westphalia)

Top: Life project group [ Enlarge Photo ]
Middle: Allis Shad Symposium in Düsseldorf on 6 June 2007 [ Enlarge Photo ]
Bottom: District president Helmut Diegel opens the Symposium [ Enlarge Photo ]

 

Animals of the River Rhine

Applied scientific workshops on the Ecological Research Station of the University of Cologne

27 March 2007 Fishes of the Rhine - Allis shad (Alosa alosa)
Lecturer: Dr. Peter Beeck
Participating school: Hauptschule Albermannstraße

In this workshop the pupils received information about fish species in the River Rhine. Dr. Beeck was able to explain the complex correlations in a simple and fascinating way to the young audience. He spoke in detail about the work of the migratory fish program and showed a lot of pictures, small video clips, and exhibits.

In particular he presented a European Life project on the re-introduction of allis shad in the River Rhine System. Dr. Beeck who coordinates the project as an employee of the Stiftung Wasserlauf, was also responsible for the preliminary studies at the Ecological Research Station of the University of Cologne. The goal of the project is a self sustaining allis shad population in the River Rhine which will not need accompanying stocking activities in the future.

Photo: Pupils of the Hauptschule Albermannstraße with Dr. Beeck fly the EU Life flag on the Ecological Research Station of the University of Cologne. [ Enlarge Photo ]

 

Hunting and Sportfishing Fair (Jagd & Hund) in Dortmund from 30 January to 4 February 2007

The Life project was presented during the Hunting and Sportfishing Fair (Jagd & Hund) on the new exhibition wall at the exhibition of the Fisheries Association of North Rhine Westfalia.

Photo: Minister of Environment Eckhard Uhlenberg (right) congratulates Dr. Beeck (Project management, Stiftung Wasserlauf) to the successful start of the project. [ Enlarge Photo ]

 

Herrings in the River Rhine?
Re-introduction of allis shad in the Rhine System has started

With a funding of the European Union the EU Life project on the re-introduction of allis shad in the River Rhine System has started in January 2007. Out of 229 European Life Project proposals the allis shad project was one of 61 projects selected for 50% funding through the European Commission. The Federal State Office for Nature, the Environment and Consumer Protection in North Rhine Westphalia, Department 26, has the project leadership. The project has a term of 4 years and will terminate at the end of 2010. The project budget is about 1 million Euros. Besides the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, other partners are co-financing the project. These include HIT Environment Fund, Rheinfischereigenossenschaft NRW, Ministry of Environment of the Federal State Hessen, Germany, the Dutch Sportfisher Organization and research partners in France.

The goal of this project is the re-introduction of allis shad in the River Rhine System. This large member of the herring family migrated in huge numbers hundreds of kilometers upstream and was once an important species for the commercial inland fishery. Allis shad grow up to 70 cm in total length and reach a total weight of up to 4 kg. At the beginning of the 20th century the Rhine shad population collapsed. Reasons for the decline included over fishing, water pollution and the construction of migration barriers. Today only a few shad are observed in the River Rhine and large populations only exist in France.

With the help of the Life Project the stepwise re-introduction of this extraordinary fish species shall take place. Five million shad larvae will be stocked in the Rhine System in the next 4 years. All fish will be produced in France and marked before stocking to analyze the success of the project. The “Stiftung Wasserlauf”, a regional environment fund, is responsible for the implementation of project activities and has employed the shad expert Dr. Peter Beeck for this task. The office of Dr. Beeck is in the Aquazoo Duesseldorf in Germany.

Project logo [ Enlarge Picture ]