Twaite Shad Alosa fallax
The Twaite Shad (Alosa fallax) is a migratory, herring-like fish that spends most of its life at sea before entering estuaries and rivers to spawn, typically in May and June. It is more tolerant of modified river conditions than its rarer relative, the Allis Shad, and is the more frequently recorded of the two in Suffolk waters. The county’s estuaries – particularly the Stour and Orwell – fall within the range of this species, and fish pass installation and improving estuarine water quality have the potential to support and expand populations. The Twaite Shad is a species of principal importance under the Environment Act. Image: © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr.
Find out more: iNaturalist, Marine Life Information Centre
Suffolk’s Priority Marine Life Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
