A yellow-brown colored body with faded dark horizontal stripes, a pointed snout, two independently movable eyes and two dorsal fins, the first of which is armed with spiny rays: the Zingel is a special fish. But not only because of his appearance. But because it only occurs in Germany in the Bavarian Danube and the lower reaches of the Iller, Isar, Inn and other larger Danube tributaries. In addition, the Zingel is very rare, it is protected all year round and is listed on the Red List in the “Endangered” category. So that the Zingel has a future in the Bavarian Danube, the State Fishing Association (LFV) and the State Office for the Environment (LfU) have now started a five-year reintroduction program.
“Zingel is a Bavarian character species, the Free State has a special responsibility for the species,” says Johannes Schnell, biologist and head of the Water and Nature Conservation department at the LFV. The Zingel is therefore strictly protected under European nature conservation law. “Zingel zingel”, as the species is called in technical jargon, used to be widespread in the Danube and its large tributaries up to the Salzach. The species, which belongs to the group of perch and is not important as a food fish, was found in the shallow sections of the river bank where the subsoil is sandy-gravel and the water flows comparatively slowly. The Zingel is mainly active at dusk and at night. Then it moves jerkily over the bottom of the water with the help of its pectoral and brook fins and hunts for small crabs, worms and insect larvae. “In addition, the Zingel eats fish spawn and fry,” says Schnell, “as is usual with perch, including their own species.”
Offspring from Wielenbach
Today the Zingel has disappeared from most of its former habitats. “You can only find him a little more often in the Danube between Straubing and Vilshofen,” says Schnell, “and then again behind Passau.” The reasons for the decline are the same as for many other native fish species. Probably the most important are the expansion of the Danube into a shipping route, including canalisation, straightening and transverse structures. As a result, countless habitats and spawning grounds of the Zingel were lost. “In the upper Bavarian Danube, it can only be found in isolated cases,” says Schnell. The resettlement program is starting these days. In cooperation with local fishermen, the first 20,000 young Zingel are being released into the wild in two places near Eining in the Kelheim district and on a renatured section of the Danube near Pförring (Eichstätt district). The little fish are two to three centimeters small. Adult Zingels, which can live up to 15 years, measure up to half a meter.
The first 20,000 young Zingels are being released into the wild in two places near Eining in the Kelheim district (pictured) and in a renatured section of the Danube near Pförring in the Eichstätt district.
(Photo: Armin Weigel/dpa)
The Zingel offspring comes from the LfU’s fishing and water ecology branch in Wielenbach (Weilheim-Schongau district). The 83-hectare facility, which dates back to the “Royal Bavarian Pond Economic Research Station” from 1912 and is located in the south of Lake Ammer, includes 145 fish ponds. All kinds of local fish species, mussels and crabs are bred and kept in them. And now also Zingel. “Breeding Zingeln is not comparable to breeding trout or carp, it is much more demanding and requires experience,” says Schnell. “If only because young Zingel don’t eat standard fish food, but only mosquito larvae and other small natural food.” When the little fish get bigger, you also have to prevent the native cannibalism.
The reintroductions on the Danube are to be repeated every year from now on. At first glance, 20,000 Zingel seems quite a lot. “But that’s not it,” says Schnell. “Because the failure rates are likely to be high, if only because small juvenile fish are welcome prey for all sorts of other fish.” The young Zingel are released into the Danube when it gets dark, so that they can disappear down the river as unnoticed as possible. It is not yet certain whether the campaigns in the coming years will take place again on the two sections of the Danube near Eining and Pförring. “First of all, we need monitoring for the current release,” says Schnell, “and then, based on this, a concept for further stocking.” According to Schnell, it would also be conceivable, for example, to reintroduce them to the wild in the area where the Isar flows into the Danube near Deggendorf. The area is considered to be particularly natural. A unique river and floodplain landscape stretches out there that is hard to find anywhere else in Bavaria.