The Adige, Italy’s second longest river after the Po, was once home to an exceptionally rich diversity of fish species. From its mouth on the Adriatic up to Merano, the river formed a single, interconnected aquatic system. Thanks to the varied structure of its riverbed and the increasing flow from the mountains down to the plains, it supported a wide range of fish communities. Historical records show that, up until well into the 19th century, the Adige hosted at least 34 native or near-native fish species. Among them were well-known species such as the marble trout, grayling, Po barbel, and eel, along with numerous gravel-spawning cyprinids and even three species of sturgeon. The onset of industrialization brought profound changes: large-scale river straightening, the fragmentation of habitats through hydropower dams, the discharge of urban and industrial waste, and the introduction of non-native species. As a result, many of the river’s original inhabitants have vanished or are now on the brink of extinction. If one were to draw up a “Red List” for the Adige today, more than 60% of its fish species would be classified as extinct or threatened. This colloquium will revisit the history of fish species once common in the Adige, shedding light on the causes of their decline and the precarious state of those that remain.
Alex Festi, naturalist and director of the Unione Pesca Alto Adige, has worked in hydroecology for over twenty years. He is also a passionate historian of South Tyrol’s fish and fishing traditions.
The event can also be followed online on the Museum’s YouTube channel.
