The objective of the project was to develop, evaluate and implement a standardised Fish-based Assessment Method for the ecological status of European rivers 
(FAME), a method identified as priority requirement for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. This project is the first initiative to develop 
a fish-based assessment method for rivers with a pan-European perspective. A large central database of about 17000 fish samples (sites) covering some 5000 
rivers in 16 European eco-regions contributed by 23 partners offers the unique opportunity to develop, calibrate and test the new method. 
            

The aim of the project is to develop a new standardised fish-based assessment method for the ecological status of European rivers which is expected to become 
the standard in the Member Countries.     
The following objectives were achieved in the different workpackages:    
- A river typology was developed to to account for fish distribution in European rivers. It was derived on two main levels, using common themes from national 
schemes and the models proposed by the Water Framework Directive.    
- A standardised classification scheme for fish species was developed.    
- Biological reference conditions for riverine fish communities for the comparison of monitoring information were established.    
Different fish based methods for the assessment of the ecologicak status of rivers were reviewed and the distinct metrics and sampling procedures classified 
and identified.    
National data was screened and imported into the standardised database.    
The central Fame database FIDES (FIsh Database of European Streams) was established.    
    
Reference:    
    
Schmutz, S, Haidvogel, G.(2002): FAME - Ein EU-Projekt zur Entwicklung einer fischbezogenen Bewertungsmethode für den ökologischen Zustand von europäischen 
Fließgewässern. Österreichs Fischerei 55 (7), 173-176 
            

The goal of the project was to establish a new standardised fish-based assessment method for the ecological status of European rivers which is expected to become 
the standard in the Member Countries.     
The following products are available:     
-	Report on “River typology & Fish species classification” (Generic)     
-	Report on “Defining of reference conditions”     
-	Report on “Defining assessment metrics and sampling procedures”     
Several presentations are available on the FAME web-pages