Fishing Association Urgently Calls for Greater Protection for Swiss Fish

Recent studies and data confirm that many Swiss bodies of water are reaching their ecological limits. The association is calling for uniform national and strengthened protection and management measures.

What do the figures show?

• Around 72.6% of the water sections examined — primarily rivers and smaller watercourses — are in a poor ecological condition according to the latest monitoring data. In these sections, fish populations are frequently reduced, and the diversity of fish species is often severely limited.
• Fish in many bodies of water are no longer present in their natural species composition: approximately half of the water sections examined still contain the original fish species; in the other half, species that are actually native to those waters are absent.
• Species particularly affected include cold-water fish such as trout and grayling. These are highly sensitive to rising water temperatures and oxygen depletion. Examples: During the heat summer of 2018, a mass die-off of grayling occurred in the Rhine near Schaffhausen when water temperatures rose above 27°C.
• Biodiversity: The native fish fauna consists of 86 fish species plus lampreys; in addition, there are approximately 4 non-native fish species.
• Threat status: Around one fifth of the original native fish species have completely disappeared. Of those that still occur, approximately three quarters are considered potentially endangered or threatened with extinction.

Causes of Decline

1. Climate Change & Rising Temperatures
   • More frequent heat summers are leading to warmer bodies of water, which has a negative impact on oxygen levels and habitats. Many fish can no longer thrive under such conditions, let alone spawn successfully.
   • Trout and grayling, which require cool water, are being pushed back particularly severely.
2. Damming and Fragmentation of Watercourses
   • Hydropower plants, straightened river sections, and the lack of connectivity for fish migration put pressure on populations. Habitats are often fragmented, which impedes genetic exchange and dispersal.
3. Water Quality & Pollution
   • Agricultural nutrient inputs (e.g. fertilizers), wastewater residues, and chemical contamination have negative effects; algal blooms in warm weather exacerbate oxygen depletion problems.
4. Low Water Levels & Water Extraction
   • During dry periods, water levels in rivers drop; small-scale watercourses are particularly affected. Residual water volumes are not sufficient everywhere to sustain fish and small organisms.

Existing Measures

• Legal foundations exist at the federal level: fisheries legislation, the Water Protection Act, and specific ordinances that govern both protection and use.
• Projects such as the Atlantic Salmon Reintroduction Concept Switzerland (2021–2025) aim to return migratory species to river systems.
• River restoration projects show positive effects on fish catch rates: in four cantons, developments in restored sections were better than in areas without such measures.

Where Is Urgent Action Needed?

The fishing association calls for:

• Stricter legal measures and their consistent implementation, particularly with regard to closed seasons, minimum size regulations, and rules on fish stocking.
• Expansion of restoration programmes, removal of engineering structures, and promotion of watercourse connectivity.
• Protection of refuge areas for fish species, especially in cooler higher elevations or depths, as well as securing residual water flows even during periods of low precipitation.
• Improvement of water quality, e.g. through reduction of nutrient inputs from agriculture and wastewater; stricter control of pollutants.
• Climate adaptation strategies for aquatic ecosystems to address rising temperatures.

The facts are clear: a large proportion of Swiss watercourses are under severe ecological stress. Many fish species are considered endangered, and without enhanced protective measures, irreversible losses are imminent. It is now the responsibility of the federal government, cantons, and municipalities, together with fishing stakeholders and nature conservation organisations, to act swiftly and effectively so that watercourses remain alive — and fish do not become merely a memory.

The Swiss Fishing Association (SFV) also demands a drastic reduction in the input of so-called PFAS chemicals in order to protect the health of fish and bodies of water. PFAS are synthetic substances that are extremely long-lived and accumulate in the environment and in organisms.

Studies in Switzerland and Europe show that PFAS are detectable in rivers, lakes and groundwater. They originate from industrial applications, coatings, firefighting foams and consumer goods. According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), PFAS are a growing problem for aquatic organisms due to their persistence and bioaccumulation.

These chemicals are virtually non-degradable and enter food chains. Fish in particular are severely affected because they absorb and store PFAS from the water. In sensitive species such as trout, grayling or whitefish, PFAS can, among other things, weaken the immune system and impair reproduction.

Switzerland is currently examining stricter limit values and bans for individual PFAS. At the EU level, a process is underway to broadly restrict all PFAS. Experts are calling on Switzerland to support this process and tighten its own national regulations.

In addition to stricter limit values, the SFV is also demanding better monitoring of industrial wastewater, remediation of contaminated sites and investment in technologies for PFAS elimination in sewage treatment plants. At the same time, research into the effects of PFAS on fish and other aquatic organisms must be intensified.

If we want to preserve our rivers and lakes for future generations, PFAS must be stopped at the source. Healthy fish need clean water — free of forever chemicals.

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