Alosa fallax

Habitat & Distribution

This fish is found in inshore waters, entering the rivers in spring when the water temperature reaches 10-12\'baC, they penetrate upstream to spawn on stony ground, then returning immediately to the sea. It is distributed along the Atlantic coastline from Morocco to Iceland and is more common than the Allis Shad, but both species should now be considered as rare or very scarce. This species can be relatively common at times in the Falmouth Bay and Estuary area.

Threats

This species has been in decline since the mid-nineteenth century, due to interruption of its spawning migration resulting from obstructions along the various river courses. Deterioration of water quality as a result of agricultural and industrial pollution has also played a part. Numerous specimens are accidentally caught in nets, set for other fish species, in the open sea.

Conservation

Listed under Appendix III of the Bern Convention; listed under Annex IIa and Va in the EC Habitats Directive; It was added to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in 1998, S.9 (4) (a) \endash 1998, damage/destruction of place of shelter/protection. It is also on the UK List of Priority Species and is an NIMF candidate species.