Allis shad (Alosa alosa)

Allis shad is a rare migratory fish, that spends much of its adult life at sea. Once matured, they head for freshwater at the top of the estuary and when the temperature’s right, they spawn at night, laying their eggs on the river bed. After the young fish hatch they stay in the estuary to mature before retracing their parent’s journey. The Tamar is the only known Allis shad spawning site in the UK.

Designated as a feature of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Image © Rob Hillman