Where Does European river shad Live?

European river shad lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find European river shad

Water type

brackish

Depth

Typically found in coastal marine waters, estuaries, and lower to middle reaches of rivers during spawning migrations. In marine environments, they inhabit pelagic zones, usually within 100 meters depth.

Environment

Anadromous, spending most of its life in coastal marine waters and estuaries, migrating into freshwater rivers for spawning. Prefers clear, well-oxygenated rivers with gravel or sandy bottoms for spawning.

Geographic range

Eastern Atlantic Ocean, from southern Norway and the Baltic Sea south to Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea and its major river systems (e.g., Rhône, Po, Guadalquivir, Tagus, Loire, Garonne, Severn, Rhine, Elbe).

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