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Fish in Germany
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Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

Salmo salar

DE: Lachs

1 · Critically endangered
Maximum Size
150 cm
Waters
3

Distinguishing Features

Slender silvery body, black X-shaped spots, adipose fin, deeply forked tail fin.

Habitat

Sea; migrates far up rivers to spawn (anadromous).

Red List Germany

1 · Critically endangered

Will disappear from Germany soon unless its threats are removed.

Red List of freshwater fish:
Freyhof et al. 2023 · Rote-Liste-Zentrum
IUCN global:
NT · Near Threatened

Fishing rules by federal state

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

Stocked salmon only: 60 cm, closed 16 Oct – 15 Apr.

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 Donau Oder Ems 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 Rhein Elbe Weser

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

Native

Elbe Rhein Weser

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.