Apron II - Programme for the conservation of the Rhône-Apron (Zingel asper)
and its habitats
LIFE04 NAT/FR/000083
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details:
Project Manager: Marianne GEORGET
Tel: 00 33 4 75 36 30 59
Email: [email protected]
Project description:
Background
The apron (Zingel asper) is a small, nocturnal bottom-dwelling fish listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. It only
occurs in the Rhône river basin. It is about 15 to 20 cm in size and thrives in clear, oxygen-rich waters with clean
gravel bottoms. The apron's behaviour is sedentary and territorial. At daytime, it remains hidden among riverbed
stones and is almost invisible due to its excellent camouflage. At the onset of the 20th century the apron could be
found throughout the entire Rhône catchment, i.e. over a length of 1 700 km. At present, its distribution only covers
380 km at most and the total population is estimated between 2 000 and 4 000 individuals, divided into various
genetically isolated sub-populations. The main reason for its decline is the impact of hydraulic engineering works
such as dams and weirs. These are effectively impassable barriers to the aprons and isolate sub-populations from
each other. River pollution and flow changes due to water pumping for agricultural purposes have also led to a severe
degradation of the apron's habitat. A first three-year LIFE-Nature project (1998-2001) for the apron considerably
improved knowledge of its ecological requirements; it also conducted a feasibility study for rearing this species for
re-introduction purposes and developed a long-term conservation strategy. Objectives
The general aim of this second LIFE project on Zingel asper was to implement the measures proposed in the
‘Guidelines for Management and Conservation of the Apron’, which was produced by the first LIFE project. There were
three main operative objectives: 1) improve the genetic exchange and increase population size through the
construction of fish passes at impassable dams (13 fish passes suitable for the apron are planned); 2) determine the
feasibility of re-introducing the species through trials in several test sites, using both hatchery and wild-born fish; 3)
improving knowledge on populations by field surveys to find unknown populations and to estimate the size of known
populations and the extent of adequate habitat. Results
The actions implemented during the project lifetime yielded very good results, even though the project’s longer-term
objectives are not yet fully evaluated. Following extensive annual surveys carried out in the French watercourses of the Rhône catchment area (a total of 296
km were surveyed on foot at night!), the knowledge of the species was significantly improved and the geographic
limits of the apron populations were identified. Its presence is now estimated at 11% of the presumed historic river
length (about 240 km). To meet the objective of improving the intra-population genetic mixing and opening up large parts of the river basin
to natural recolonisation, four actions were undertaken: Identification of the different types of obstacles/barriers along the rivers separating the sub-populations,
and the designing of fish passes that have hydraulic characteristics suited to the species' swimming abilities;
Proposals and detailed plans for fish passes for 17 obstacles/barriers along the Loue, Durance and Ardèche
rivers; Fitting five weirs with fish passes suitable for the apron (for one of these an artificial river by-passing the
weir was installed instead of a more classical fish pass);
Drafting a guidance document ‘Fish passes suitable for the apron: design and feedback from experience’
(this can be downloaded form the "read more" section below).
The effectiveness of these fish passes is not yet fully evaluated as they are only recently finished, but the first
monitoring results are very encouraging.
monitoring results are very encouraging.
To overcome the threat of extinction, reintroduction tests were undertaken in 2006, 2008 and 2009. A total of 1,700
apron were released into the Drôme River. The first inventories showed good survival two years later, but it is too
early to know if they successfully reproduce in the wild (which is the indicator of the long-term success of this
action). These reintroductions could not have taken place if the Besançon Museum had not succeeded in enabling, for
the first time, captive reproduction of the apron. This result is very significant because it secures a long-term future
for this endangered species. An apron ‘observatory’ was set-up: 21 stations were monitored to measure the population size and different
environmental parameters. However, factors limiting the distribution of the species could not be clearly identified
from the data obtained. The water managers are nevertheless very satisfied with the observatory and the information
obtained has already influenced management plans.
Finally, a significant information campaign was organised to make the apron better known to the general public.
Leaflets, brochures and high-quality documents were widely distributed. Three permanent exhibitions showing live
apron and interactive computers were established in the Rhone basin territory. More than 6 000 children were reached
during school activities.
In conclusion, the apron remains a species in critical danger of extinction. Yet the measures implemented during this
LIFE project have made a significant contribution to its long-term conservation. The continuation of the project
seems ensured: ten additional weirs will be equipped with fish passes suitable for the apron in the next few years,
completing the work already made to reconnect the different sub-populations and to open a much larger part of the
river basin to natural recolonisation. Furthermore, a National Action Plan for the species is nearly finalised and is
expected to coordinate the continuation of the work initiated by these two successive and successful LIFE projects.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section). Top
Environmental issues addressed:
Themes
Species - Fish
Keywords
water resources management‚ aquatic ecosystem‚ river‚ conservation of genetic resources‚ introduction of animal
species‚ hydrographic basin Target EU Legislation
Nature protection and Biodiversity
Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directiv ...
Target species
Zingel asper Natura 2000 sites
SCI FR4301291
SCI FR4301323
SCI FR8201654
SCI FR8201656
SCI FR8201657
SCI FR8201677
SCI FR8201678
SCI FR8201679
SCI FR8201684
SCI FR8201689
SCI FR9101395
SCI FR9101399
SCI FR9301589
SCI FR9301616
Vallée de la Loue
Basse vallée du Doubs
Basse Ardèche urgonienne
Bois de Païolive et Basse Vallée du Chassezac
Moyenne vallée de l'Ardèche et ses affluents, pelouses du plateau des Gras
MILIEUX ALLUVIAUX DU RHÔNE AVAL
Milieux aquatiques et alluviaux de la basse vallée de la Drôme
Rivière du Roubion
Milieux alluviaux et aquatiques et gorges de la moyenne vallée de la Drôme et du Bez
Forêts alluviales, rivière et gorges de l'Eygues
LE GARDON ET SES GORGES
La Cèze et ses gorges
LA DURANCE
Grand canyon du Verdon - plateau de la Palud
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Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes des Espaces Naturels (CREN)
Coordinator
Type of organisation
Description
Partners
Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes des Espaces Naturels (CREN)
NGO-Foundation
The Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes des Espaces Naturels is a regional,
independent and non-profitable organisation, a member of a French
network ‘Espaces Naturels de France’, and is tasked with the
conservation and management of ecological, biological and landscape
diversity in the Rhône-Alpes region. It carries out nature
conservation programmes, and more specifically land-purchasing
actions in order to protect sensitive and valuable natural areas. It also
carries out fauna and flora inventories, natural area management and
educational programmes. Conseil Supérieur de la Pêche (CSP), France Compagnie Nationale du
Rhône (CNR), France Syndicat Ardèche Claire, France Syndicat Mixte
de la Loue, France Communauté de Communes de la Vallée de la
Drôme (DAVD), France Communauté du communes du Lac du
Bourget (CCLB), France Ville de Besançon, France Top
Administrative data:
Project reference
Duration
Total budget
EU contribution
Project location
LIFE04 NAT/FR/000083
01-APR-2004 to 31-MAR -2010
3,508,289.00 €
1,578,730.00 €
Franche-Comté(France),Rhône-Alpes(France),Languedoc-Roussillon(France),Provence-Alpes-Côte
d' Azur(France)
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Read more:
Brochure
Leaflet
Project web site
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Video link
Video link
Title: "Les rivières vives à sables et galets" (1.7 MB) Author: Marion
Langon, Marjorine Frappé, CREN Rhône-Alpes Year: 2008 No of
pages: 20 Title: "Le plan national d'actions en faveur de l'Apron du Rhône"
(document de travail) No of pages: 8 Project's website
Title: Rapport simplifié Year: 2009 No of pages: 8 Title: Layman report Year: 2009 No of pages: 8 Title: "Essai de reproduction de l'Apron du Rhône en conditions
artificielles contrôlées - Bilan des saisons 2005-2009" (2 MB)
Author: Mickaël Béjean & Frédéric Maillot Year: 2009 Editor: Musée
d'Histoire Naturelle, Besançon No of pages: 42 Title: Synthèse des résultats scientifiques (18.3 MB!) Author: Marion
Langon Year: 2008 Editor: CREN Rhône-Alpes No of pages: 44 Title: "Les passes à poissons adaptées à l'Apron du Rhône Conception et retour d'expériences" (5.7 MB) Author: M. Georget et al.
Year: 2010 Editor: CREN Rhône-Alpes No of pages: 25 Title: "Programme de conservation de l'Apron du Rhône (Zingel Asper)
et de ses habitats - Synthèse des résultats 2006-2009" Year: 2010 No
of pages: 29 "L'apron du Rhône : un poisson en voie de disparition" (10')
"L'élevage de l'Apron du Rhône au Muséum de Besançon" (8')
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Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e