France country information

Common names: Alose, Alose vraie, Alose vraie
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: abundant (always seen in some numbers) | Ref: Rochard, E. and P. Elie, 1994
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: experimental | Ref: Spillman, C.-J., 1961
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Type locality of the lectotype of Alausa vulgaris: 'Paris Market (presumably caught in Seine)' (Ref. 104876; lectotype by Ref. 104885). Known from the Atlantic coast (Ref. 51442, 59043) and all rivers along the Atlantic coast (Ref. 40476), including Loire (Ref. 51442, 59043) and Gironde (Ref. 51442, 59043). More rarely on the Mediterranean coast (Ref. 40476). The lacustrine form has been the subject of pisciculture studies for restocking purposes (Ref. 2196). In "Annexe III de la Convention de Berne" and in "Annexes II et V de la Directive Habitats-Faune-Flore" (Ref. 40476). Game fishing is in full rise (Ref. 51442). Also Ref. 188. Status of threat: Vulnerable (Ref. 11941, 30578, 74334).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Keith, P. and J. Allardi (coords.), 2001
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Clupeiformes (Herrings) > Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens) > Alosinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Alose vraie, Sábalo común, Allice shad, ... more

Main reference

Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985. (Ref. 188)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 69.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 10536); 83.0 cm TL (female); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2945); common length :70 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 4.0 kg (Ref. 30578); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 10536)

Length at first maturity
L_m 48.1, range 45 - 50 cm

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous (Ref. 89642); depth range 10 - 300 m (Ref. 10536)

Climate / Range

Temperate, preferred 16°C (Ref. 107945); 61°N - 20°N, 17°W - 22°E

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: from southern Norway and along the coasts of Europe to northern Mauritania (Ref. 188, 6683), including the Western Baltic Sea up to the Kaliningrad Oblast (Ref. 12801, 26334, 59043), the western part of Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 188, 6683, 59043) and the coast of northern Africa (Ref. 3509). Outside France this species is rare (Ref. 89646). Listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention (2002). Listed in Annex II and V of the EC Habitats Directive (2007).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 27; Vertebrae: 57 - 58. Diagnosis: Body somewhat compressed, fairly deep with depth at pectoral fin more than head length, scutes apparent along belly (Ref. 188, 51442). Upper jaw notched, lower jaw fitting into it; no teeth on vomer; gillrakers long, thin and numerous, a total of 85 to 130, longer than gill filaments (Ref. 188). A dark spot posterior to gill opening, but sometimes absent, occasionally 1 or 2 more spots (Ref. 188). Alosa alosa resembles Alosa fallax, which has fewer and shorter gillrakers and 7 or 8 black spots along flank (Ref. 188).

Amphihaline species, schooling and strongly migratory, penetrating far up rivers but not into small tributaries (Refs. 188, 59043). Adults are usually found in open waters along the coast (Ref. 51442). In freshwater, inhabits major rivers but may also enter tributaries, if water temperature is equal to or is warmer than the main river (Ref. 188, 10536). Known lake populations from Morocco and Portugal need access to rivers to spawn (Refs. 10536, 89647, 89648). Larvae and small juveniles inhabit deep slow-flowing areas of rivers (Ref. 89649), some swimming upstream in late summer and autumn (Ref. 10536). Juveniles (up to 1+ years) are usually found near estuaries or river mouths (Refs. 10536, 59043), possibly making vertical diurnal movements synchronized with the tides; they remain in estuaries for over one year (Ref. 89630). Feeds on a wide range of planktonic crustaceans; larger adults feed on small schooling fishes (Ref. 188, 51442, 59043). Juveniles in freshwater prey on insect larvae. Females in European rivers commonly reach 70 cm total length (Ref. 10536). Females grow faster and are always larger than males of the same age (Ref. 10536). Less common than Alosa fallax but both have suffered from pollution and weirs or other obstructions (Ref. 188). It has been suggested that members of the genus Alosa are hearing specialists with the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) having been found to detect and respond to sounds up to at least 180 kHz (Ref. 89631). This may aid in predator avoidance (e.g. cetaceans) (Ref. 89632). Hybridization with the twaite shad (Alosa fallax) has been reported from the Rhine (Ref. 89633) as well as from rivers in France and Algeria (Ref. 10536). Shad hybrids may reproduce (Ref. 27567). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten sautéed, broiled, fried and baked (Ref. 9988).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

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References
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.0 ±0.2 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19-0.29; tm=3.5; tmax=10)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low

Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758)