Updated Red List Reveals Alarming Decline in Hamburg’s Fish Population
Hamburg, August 25 – The Hamburg Environmental Authority has released an updated Red List for “Freshwater Fish and Cyclostomes,” the first revision since 2015. The new assessment reveals that out of more than 50 species identified in Hamburg’s rivers and canals, including the Elbe and Alster, nearly half are now considered endangered.
Salmon on the Brink of Extinction in Hamburg
Experts from the Environmental Authority have documented over 50 distinct species of fish and cyclostomes-eel-like, jawless aquatic animals-in Hamburg’s waterways. While most of these species are native to the region, 43 percent are now classified as endangered. Among them are species such as smelt, dace, and trout. The most critical situation is for the salmon, which is listed as critically endangered in Hamburg.
Katharina Fegebank (Greens), Senator for the Environment, emphasized the dual purpose of the Red List. “The Red List shows where we still need to take action in water protection,” Fegebank stated, highlighting the ongoing challenges. However, she also noted positive developments, such as the recovery of certain species due to renaturation efforts.
Signs of Recovery for Some Species
The updated list brings some good news, as three species-the European brook lamprey, nase, and bullhead-are no longer considered endangered. Other species, including the stone loach, spined loach, carp, pike, sunbleak, tench, and rudd, are also categorized as not endangered. The most frequently observed species in Hamburg’s waters include roach, perch, gudgeon, and three-spined stickleback.
Water Quality Crucial for Migratory Fish
The quality of Hamburg’s waters, particularly the tidal Elbe, is vital for migratory fish traveling from the North Sea to the upper reaches of streams and rivers. Some of these migratory species, such as smelt and eel, are also endangered, with their populations showing a significant decline over an extended period. Compared to a decade ago, the situation has worsened for 14 Hamburg fish species, including smelt, trout, dace, wels catfish, barbel, and shad.
Rare sightings include wels catfish, rainbow trout, and grass carp, often recorded as isolated catches. The list also includes fish that have not been seen in the Elbe for a long time and are therefore considered extinct or lost, such as the European sturgeon and the allis shad. However, efforts are underway to reintroduce the sturgeon, which became extinct in the last century, back into the Elbe.
Multiple Factors Contributing to Decline
Experts attribute the decline of certain species primarily to the expansion of the Elbe, water pollution, and the river’s lack of complete passability for fish. The impacts of climate change are also affecting fish populations, as the Elbe’s flow patterns have changed significantly over recent decades.
Despite these challenges, the tidal Elbe remains a critical section for migratory fish, with almost one-third of Hamburg’s fish species being migratory. “They must be able to pass Hamburg unharmed,” Fegebank stressed, underscoring the importance of consistently implementing the European Water Framework Directive and supporting the major nature conservation project “Hamburg, your River Nature.”
Fishermen in Hamburg and along the Elbe have long reported dwindling catches, a concern now corroborated by scientific studies. A long-term study indicates a 90 percent reduction in fish populations in the Elbe estuary.
This topic was broadcast on NDR 90.3 as part of “NDR 90.3 Aktuell” on August 25, 2026, at 16:00.
