Reintroduction of allis shad in the river Rhein

The project develops a new method for acoustic monitoring of the spawning population of the allis shad (Alosa alosa). Classical lethal monitoring methods cannot be used for this threatened fish species. The acoustic monitoring uses the splashing noises of this species during spawning at the water surface (so-called "bulls"). We develop a method for equipping spawning grounds with acoustic recording devices and for documenting and quantitatively evaluating spawning events. The efficiency of this monitoring method is tested in various environmental and weather conditions. Furthermore, the microstructure and microchemistry of the otoliths of adult and juvenile allis shad from the Rhine are examined in order to obtain information about the dynamics of the migration of juvenile allis shad from the Rhine to the sea as well as information on the location of the subadult allis shad and to be able to estimate the population exchange with allis shad from other catchment areas.

Consortium	Rheinischer Fischereiverband, Trier University of Applied Sciences (Environmental Campus Birkenfeld), Landau University, Association Migado (Migrateurs Garonne Dordogne)
Duration	January 2017 - December 2021
Funded by	HIT- Umweltstiftung, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Forestry Rhineland-Palatinate, Hessian Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Landesfischereiverband Baden-Württemberg, Düsseldorf District Government, Rheinfischereigenossenschaft NRW, Verband Hessischer Fischer, Federal Office of the Environment BAFU (CH), Sportvisserij Nederland (NL)
Funding amount	share of Trier University of Applied Sciences: € 248,000