The Crucian carp is present in Germany to the Fish of the Year has been named for 2027. The German Angling Association, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the Society for Ichthyology announced the decision in Berlin . With the award, the institutions aim to draw attention to the species’ decline and the threats facing still waters and slow-flowing watercourses.
Experts point to several causes of local declines in crucian carp populations. These include the loss of structurally diverse banks, the standardisation of watercourses through hard bank reinforcements, nutrient pollution and frequent interventions in watercourse maintenance. Competition and genetic mixing with non-native carp species such as the Prussian carp and released ornamental fish such as the goldfish also put some populations under pressure. The combination of habitat loss and hybridisation is considered a major reason why crucian carp populations, once widespread, have shrunk in many regions.
The associations stress that Fish of the Year should be more than a symbolic gesture. It should support practical measures: protect waterside buffer strips, allow siltation zones to develop, reconnect oxbows and floodplains, avoid stocking non-native species and preserve local refuge waters. Improving water quality and adapting the management of ponds and ditches are also cited as effective measures. Local authorities, water and nature conservation agencies, and land managers are urged to embed these steps in funding programmes and maintenance plans.
The crucian carp is a native carp species that prefers shallow, plant-rich still waters with soft bottoms. It is considered adaptable to fluctuating oxygen levels, but depends on a mosaic of natural small water bodies. Where these features are lost or the waters are stocked with non-native fish, populations retreat.
According to the institutions involved, the campaign is aimed at a broad audience and seeks to highlight the links between watercourse structure, biodiversity and human use. It also points to gaps in monitoring data: regional trends are documented, but further surveys are needed for a nationwide assessment. The effectiveness of the announced measures depends on whether states and local authorities provide funding to develop natural still waters and legally and practically ensure that problematic stocking practices are avoided.
The decision brings everyday waters such as village ponds, oxbow lakes and ditches into focus. In the associations’ view, preserving them is essential to securing the crucian carp’s long-term future in Germany.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).