Concerns over enigmatic salmon species
The worrying health of Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) stocks was the subject of a conference organised by the European Parliament Recreational Fisheries Forum this week.
A panel of experts from across Europe pointed to the decline of the rare species as reflective of the poor health of the Danube and its tributaries, which encompass Germany, Austria, Slovenia, the Balkans and Romania. Throughout the basin, human activities such as agriculture, construction navigation and – most significantly – hydroelectricity generation, have all seriously impacted the rivers.
The event, chaired by the Romanian MEP and President of the Forum Norica Nicolai, described the species (also known as the huchen) as both a barometer for these rivers’ health, and a symbol for all scientists and nature lovers.
“The Danube salmon serves both as an indicator and a symbol for intact river systems…Experience shows that large or dense hydropower development is incompatible with the conservation of Danube salmon,” said Dr Steven Weiss, from the University of Graz.
The question of the impact of hydropower dams on the Danube salmon’s habitat was raised several times during the meeting. EU anglers are working on several restoration projects along the Danube and are also asking for the protection of the remaining intact natural habitats, such as the Slovenian rivers, where the fish spawn very successfully, as demonstrated by Dr Dasa Zabric from the Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia.
