Fish Catches in Rhine Drop, Seasonality Shifts to June Peak

January 1, 2022

In the most recent year, 247 fish were caught in the River Rhine and its tributaries, with June being the peak month for catches. The Zander was the most frequently caught species in the Rhine, while the Alet dominated in the Wiese and Birs; overall, fish catches have decreased compared to 2020, but species diversity has remained stable.

In the most recent year, a total of 247 fish were caught across the River Rhine and its tributaries, with June seeing the highest number of catches at 39. The largest fish recorded was a Zander, measuring an impressive 160 cm. In the Rhine, the Zander was the most frequently caught species, with 37 individuals. The Wiese saw the Alet as the most common, with 17 catches, while the Birs also had the Alet as the most frequently caught species, with 6 individuals. Compared to previous years, catches in the Rhine have decreased, while the Wiese and Birs have remained broadly stable.

Comparing the most recent year to previous years, the total number of fish caught has decreased from the 332 fish caught in 2020. The peak month for catches shifted from September in 2020 to June in 2021, indicating a change in seasonality. The species composition has also seen some shifts, with the Zander remaining dominant in the Rhine but with fewer catches than in previous years. The Alet continues to be prevalent in both the Wiese and Birs, maintaining its position as the most frequently caught species. Overall, the number of species recorded has remained consistent at 13, suggesting stability in species diversity despite the fluctuations in total catches.


Table 1: Fish Catches Statistics in 2021
fischart catches rhine wiese birs average_length max_length
Alet 58 21 17 6 39.5 63.0
Zander 37 37 0 0 68.3 84.0
Barbe 28 22 3 2 53.3 76.0
Hecht 23 22 1 0 66.4 89.0
Rotauge 17 16 1 0 11.4 12.0
Bach-/Flussforelle 15 9 3 3 47.4 75.0
Brachsmen 15 15 0 0 54.6 63.0
Wels 15 15 0 0 87.3 160.0
Andere 13 12 1 0 15.7 85.0
Rapfen 9 9 0 0 66.4 80.0
Äsche 8 4 2 2 34.7 39.0
Karpfen 5 5 0 0 63.4 120.0
Egli 4 3 1 0 16.0 18.0

Figure 1: Time Series of Fish Catches in the Rivers Rhine, Wiese and Birs

Data source: Fischereistatistik Basel-Stadt
Additional resources: Fischen in Basel

🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.