INTEGRATED AND SHARED FISH MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION OF NATIVE SALMONIDS AND CONTRASTING INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES

Sharesalmo is a cross-border project, funded through the Interreg Italy-Switzerland Project – Axis 2 which is focused on three native salmonids, developed by a broad partnership headed by the Lombard Park of the Ticino Valley and the Canton of Ticino.

The Ticino water catchment area, Lake Como and the Sesia River are home to numerous species of Italian freshwater fish, including important species in terms of conservation on a European level, such as native salmonids – the marble trout (Salmo marmoratus), lake trout (Salmo trutta lacustris) and Adriatic grayling (Thymallus aeliani). Over the last few decades, there has been a decline in these species which are particularly demanding from an environmental point of view, due to various factors. This has had repercussions not only on the ecosystems, but also on environmental and economic sectors, with consequent need for urgent action.

Sharesalmo views native salmonids as a resource with a strong ecological, cultural, socio-economic and tourist importance that can enhance the appeal and unique value of the area. Through direct actions on the species, structural interventions, governance measures, the promotion of tourism and raising of awareness, the project works for the conservation and sustainable management of native salmonids and the containment of invasive non-native fish species (especially the Wels catfish). Expected results include the creation of the first cross-border monitoring platform for trout migration at basin level, the construction of fish passages, development of good management practices that can be exported to similar situations, the promotion of tourism and sustainable fishing. Eight partners in all are involved in the project.

Thanks to the latest INTERREG Italy-Switzerland “IV Avviso” funding, the capitalization project SHARESALMO IV avviso has been funded!

This is a real new project that will end on December 20th, 2023 and aims to disseminate and capitalize the results achieved by the SHARESALMO project. Project activities concern the enhancement of the natural heritage represented by native fish fauna and sustainable tourism. The activities bring into system the information, infrastructures, products and best practices already developed in SHARESALMO in the field of conservation of native Salmonidae, involving areas not yet investigated and transferring the experience, by both practices and methods to other fish species: the Cyprinidae.

Part of the activities is dedicated to strengthening the network involved in the cultural and tourism enhancement of the project area: educational activities and events involving citizenship for the promotion of sustainable tourism in the project areas will continue.