Fish of the Year – in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
By selecting a Fish of the Year, specific species are regularly brought to the forefront of public awareness campaigns to highlight the species, their habitats, and the threats they face.
The European catfish (Silurus glanis) is the German Fish of the Year 2026
https://www.dafv.de/projekte/fisch-des-jahres
This year, the European catfish (Silurus glanis) was also up for selection. It is a species that is threatened by habitat loss, particularly in large floodplains, but is also rapidly expanding its range, apparently as a consequence of climate change (often introduced by humans), and is therefore itself considered a threat to other species and communities. This makes it a compelling indicator of the rapid changes in aquatic habitats! Within the German Ichthyological Society (GfI), there are currently initiatives underway to improve the data situation and find solutions through research projects. This year, the European catfish (Silurus glanis) is a species that is threatened by habitat loss, especially in large floodplains.
The European Catfish (Silurus glanis) in the GfI Fish Species Atlas
The Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) in the GfI Fish Species Atlas: https://biodiv-atlas.de/fische/#!/species/40095/details
Underwater portrait. Source: Uwe Mischke via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvlCJaB6EgI
Press Release
Joint press release from the German Angling Association (DAFV) and the German Ichthyological Society (Gesellschaft für Ichthyologie e.V., GfI) dated November 5, 2025:
“The European catfish (Silurus glanis) is the German Fish of the Year 2026. With this selection, the German Angling Association (DAFV), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), and the German Ichthyological Society (GfI) are drawing attention to a fascinating and, not least because of its size, special fish species. (…)” Read more:
Background photo: Hucho hucho, Fish of the Year 2023 from Austria; Photo: © Clemens Ratschan, https://www.lfvooe.at/fisch-des-jahres-2023-huchen/