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Twaite Shad

Twaite Shad

Alosa fallax

DE: Finte

2 · Endangered
Maximum Size
50 cm
Waters
3

Distinguishing Features

Laterally compressed body, serrated belly keel, large mouth, row of dark spots on the flanks.

Habitat

Coastal marine waters; migrates into rivers to spawn.

Red List Germany

2 · Endangered

Strongly declining or already greatly reduced in Germany.

Twaite shad spend almost their whole life cycle in estuaries and at sea, so they are assessed in the marine Red List.

Marine Red List:
Thiel et al. 2025 · Rote-Liste-Zentrum
IUCN global:
LC · Least Concern

Fishing rules by federal state

Can I keep it?
Federal state Minimum size Closed season Notes
Brandenburg Protected year-round

Not yet researched here — see the ordinance of: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia

Statewide rules for anglers as of 24 Oct 2026, without guarantee. Clubs and waters can set stricter rules; the ordinance text is binding.

Waters

Baden-Württemberg Bavaria Berlin Brandenburg Bremen Hamburg Hesse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Lower Saxony North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia Rhein Donau Oder Main Mosel Neckar Havel Spree Saale Isar Inn Finowkanal Oder-Havel-Kanal Main-Donau-Kanal Mittellandkanal Bodensee Chiemsee Ammersee Starnberger See Müritz Steinhuder Meer Scharmützelsee Schwielochsee Senftenberger See Elbe Weser Ems

Map: Natural Earth (public domain); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Native

Elbe Weser Ems

Expected occurrence, modelled from each water's fish zones, habitat type and the federal states the species lives in, and checked against GBIF records — not a record of observations.