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Fish in Germany
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Blue Bream

Blue Bream

Ballerus ballerus

DE: Zope

3 · Vulnerable
Maximum Size
40 cm
Waters
12

Distinguishing Features

Deep, laterally compressed body, small scales, small superior mouth, long anal fin.

Habitat

Larger rivers and lakes, open water, in schools.

Red List Germany

3 · Vulnerable

Declining or locally threatened in Germany.

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 20 cm 1 Mar – 31 May

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 Weser Ems Mosel Neckar Isar Inn Finowkanal Oder-Havel-Kanal Main-Donau-Kanal Mittellandkanal Bodensee Ammersee Starnberger See Steinhuder Meer Elbe Donau Oder Main Havel Spree Saale Chiemsee Müritz Scharmützelsee Schwielochsee Senftenberger See

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

Expected in these federal states

Bavaria, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt

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.