Photographer spots 50 nase fish in Saane after 25 years

Around 50 nase fish have been photographed in the Saane near Fribourg, the largest group reported in the canton in 25 years, SRF reported. The discovery was made in early October by Michel Roggo, a photographer specialising in aquatic flora and fauna.

The nase is now endangered in Switzerland, although it was once abundant and commonly caught for food. Manuel Pompini, who is responsible for aquatic fauna in the canton of Fribourg, said habitat degradation had driven the species’ decline. Improvements to the river over recent decades have helped restore a suitable habitat.

Measures to improve conditions for aquatic wildlife in the Saane have included adding gravel to the riverbed and releasing artificial floods from the Rossens dam to restore more natural river flows. The work also benefits other species, including trout and grayling.

Roggo used a camera attached to a long pole to photograph the fish while disturbing them as little as possible. On a later visit to the riverbank with RTS, he and the broadcaster did not see any nase.