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Fish in Germany
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Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey

Petromyzon marinus

DE: Meerneunauge

1 · Critically endangered
Maximum Size
100 cm
Waters
4

Distinguishing Features

Large, eel-like, scaleless, seven gill openings, large sucking mouth with teeth, dark marbling.

Habitat

Sea; ascends rivers to spawn.

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:
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 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 Rhein Elbe Weser Ems

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

Native

Elbe Rhein 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.