The AFGN was an information platform for the exchange of experiences between isolated migratory fish projects in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Bremen, supported by the North German fishing associations. With the reunification of Germany in 1990, projects from the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg joined the meetings, which took place once or twice a year.

The first support projects for sea trout began in 1955 on the Este River near Hamburg (source: Arge Bestandsbuch).

Salmon reintroduction began on the Ems River in 1978 with Norwegian stock from the Namsen and Numedalslagen rivers.

The AFGN did important groundwork for migratory fish projects in northern Germany and far beyond. Members were also sent to NASCO conferences from time to time.

At this point, the work of the AFGN will be presented step by step and preserved in excerpts for posterity.

Protagonists from the early days of the AFGN

© Carl Werner Schmidt-Luchs
Ernst Peters, Zeven, from the Oste1 fishing community with a magnificent sea trout milt
© Carl Werner Schmidt-Luchs
Hartwig Hahn from the Arge Stör/Bramau in December 1985 with the first returnees from the river Luhe
© Carl Werner Schmidt-Luchs
Wolfgang Prien with sea trout milt from the Wümme River
© Bernhard Landwehr
Uwe Morgenroth (left) from Lachsbach in Schleswig-Holstein and journalist and Co-founder of AFGN Carl Werner Schmidt-Luchs in 2009 in Gronau/Leine
© Karl-Hans Bahns
Orri Vigfússon from NASF and Ede Brumund-Rüther, long-time spokesperson for AFGN, on October 7, 2000, in Stade
© Stefan Ludwig
Karl-Hans Bahns von der Este in 2011 at the AFGN conference in Nortorf
© Stefan Ludwig
Co-founder of the AFGN at the AFGN conference in Bremen-Hemelingen in 2006