European Native Trout Challenge
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LIFE GrayMarble – Protecting Marble Trout & Adriatic Grayling

  • T. Aeliani
  • S. marmoratus

LIFE GrayMarble is a major EU-funded conservation project dedicated to the restoration of two iconic native salmonids of northern Italy: the Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) and the Adriatic grayling (Thymallus aeliani).
Both species have suffered dramatic declines due to habitat fragmentation, hybridisation with non-native fish, water abstraction, and decades of stocking with foreign lineages. The project operates primarily within the Dora Baltea River Basin, an Alpine river system flowing from the slopes of Monte Bianco down into the Po River, across Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont. LIFE GrayMarble focuses on high-altitude tributaries, mountain streams ideally suited for salmonid reproduction, and historical habitats where native marble trout and grayling have nearly disappeared. Through habitat restoration, genetic protection, and carefully managed reintroductions, the project aims to rebuild genetically pure, self-sustaining populations and restore healthy river ecosystems across key sections of the basin. LIFE GrayMarble represents one of the most comprehensive and scientifically grounded native salmonid conservation programmes currently underway in Italy.

Origins of the Project.

The project officially began in 2021 under the LIFE Programme (LIFE20 NAT/IT/001341), bringing together regional authorities, universities, conservation institutes, and fishery organisations. Its purpose is to tackle all major threats that have pushed marble trout and Adriatic grayling toward local extinction:

  • The spread of non-native trout and grayling lineages, causing extensive hybridisation
  • Loss of natural river connectivity due to dams and weirsHabitat degradation in key spawning and nursery areas
  • Declining or functionally extinct native populations in many tributaries

From its earliest planning stages, the project has relied heavily on genetic research, long-term monitoring, and local stakeholder involvement, ensuring that every action contributes to a science-based recovery plan for both species.

What LIFE GrayMarble Does

1. Rebuilding Native Populations.

Much like the Urforelle project in Austria, LIFE GrayMarble works to secure genetically pure broodstock and produce native fry for reintroduction. Key actions include: 

  • Creating 2 certified broodstock lines for pure marble trout and 2 for Adriatic grayling.
  • Producing native juveniles in upgraded hatchery facilities in Morgex and Quincinetto.
  • Releasing genetically verified juveniles into restored habitats throughout the basin.

2. Restoring Habitat & River Continuity.

To ensure native trout and grayling can complete their life cycles naturally, the project removes or modifies barriers that previously blocked migration. This includes:

  • Restoring natural flows and river morphology
  • Opening up kilometres of spawning and feeding habitat
  • Reconnecting tributaries with main river corridors

These improvements also benefit the wider river ecosystem.

3. Removing Non-Native Fish.

A crucial part of the project focuses on removing non-native trout and grayling strains from priority conservation sites. This helps:

  • Stop further hybridisation
  • Protect recovered populations
  • Create safe areas where native fish can reproduce naturally

4. Community & Stakeholder Involvement.

 The project also invests heavily in communication and citizen science:

  • Training local volunteers and anglers to support monitoring activities
  • Developing awareness campaigns in schools and communities
  • Involving local institutions to ensure long-term adoption of best practices

This social dimension is one of the strengths of LIFE GrayMarble and helps secure support beyond the project’s end.

Our goal.

At the European Native Trout Challenge, we fully support initiatives like LIFE GrayMarble. Projects of this scale show how science, regional cooperation, and public engagement can rebuild native trout and grayling populations even after decades of decline. We aim to:

  • Raise awareness about the project
  • Promote the value of native salmonids across Europe
  • Support similar reintroduction and restoration efforts in other Alpine and Adriatic basins

LIFE GrayMarble can become a model for future conservation initiatives—demonstrating how native genetics, river restoration, and community involvement can bring a species back from the brink.