Allis Shad Allosa allosa: This fish has been protected under Schedule 5 of WACA81, Section 9 part 1 since 1991 and part 4(a) since 1998.The Twaite Shad Allosa fallax has been protected under Schedule 5, section 9 part 4(a) since 1998

Due to the Allis Shad and Twaite Shad Allosa fallax being very similar in appearance, the best way to distinguish between the two is to examine the gills on the first gill arch. Allis Shad have a lot more gill-rakers and tend to be a larger fish than Twaite Shad.

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Both the Allis Shad and Twaite Shad have similar habitats and are included in Biodiversity Action Plans and their spawning action sites given protection with SSSIs. They are therefore protected under the EC habitats directive. English Nature are monitoring these two species as part of a project conserving rivers and habitats of rivers within the Natura 2000 network