Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) re-introduction in Germany: A status report on national programmes and activities

Abstract

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) once was a common fish in German rivers. In the course of the industrial revolution the water quality decreased, the rivers were straightened and gradually fragmented by weirs and dams. As a consequence the salmon populations drastically decreased and finally became extinct by the middle of the last century. About 20years later, in 1978, the first salmon was released in an attempt to re-establish this valuable species. Today re-introduction programmes are running at all former important salmon rivers, namely at the rivers Rhine, Ems, Weser, Elbe as well as some smaller rivers. This contribution provides a short overview on the status of these re-introductions, the success stories as well as the drawbacks of salmon re-introduction in German rivers. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin.