Found in coastal and inland waters of the North and Baltic Seas (Refs. 35387, 88187). Occurs regularly in the North Sea during winter (Ref. 89634); ascends the Rhine from the southern North Sea and is known to reach the Dutch-German border (Ref. 10541). Occurs in the Baltic Sea in coastal and EEZ waters, especially northeast of Ruegen Island, in the Pommeranian Bay and in the German part of the Szczecin Lagoon (Ref. 89635). Also Ref. 12255.

The status of the twaite shad assessed according to the latest national report for the habitats directive reporting period 2000-2006 was “unfavourable / inadequate” for the Atlantic biogeographic region (German North Sea) and “unfavourable / bad” for the Continental biogeographic region (German Baltic Sea) (Refs. 88158, 88160).

Extinct in the Baltic Sea (Ref. 88159).

Critically endangered in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Ref. 88199).

Endangered in Lower Saxony (Ref. 88200).

Threats for twaite shads in the North and Baltic Seas due to human activities: obstructions in rivers, fisheries, chemical pollution, eutrophication, restocking, technical installations, channel deepening, sediment removal (Ref. 88171).