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An emblematic species
Created by Haute-Alpes artist Élie Huriez, the work pays tribute to this emblematic species, which has been present in the region for over 15,000 years. A true witness to local natural history, the Mediterranean fario trout has survived climatic upheavals and natural hazards, from periods of frost to violent floods and droughts. Perfectly adapted to cool, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated waters, it embodies the richness and fragility of Alpine aquatic ecosystems.
A threatened heritage
But this living heritage is now under threat. Fragmentation of waterways by hydraulic structures, habitat degradation, deterioration in water quality and global warming are all pressures that are undermining the species' equilibrium. Preserving the species goes far beyond the fishing industry. It involves the overall protection of aquatic environments, from natural flows to breeding grounds, including riparian zones and refuge habitats.
The sculpture is strategically located on a busy road along the shores of Lac de Serre-Ponçon. It attracts the attention of locals and visitors alike, while conveying a clear message: the urgent need to preserve rivers and the biodiversity they harbor.
Mobilizing
At the inauguration, Bernard Fanti, president of the Hautes-Alpes fishing federation, alongside Philippe Bailbé, prefect, Victor Berenguel, mayor of Savines-le-Lac, and artist Élie Huriez, emphasized the importance of collective action to protect aquatic environments.
Beyond its artistic dimension, this work of art is a genuine tool for raising awareness. Its presence in the landscape invites us all to take a fresh look at our rivers and the wildlife that lives there.
The Fédération de pêche praised the commitment of the commune of Savines-le-Lac, which welcomed the project and contributed to its development, as well as all the institutional partners present at the inauguration.
This project sends out a clear message: the rivers of the Hautes-Alpes are not just recreational areas. They represent a precious natural heritage, the preservation of which depends on collective awareness. For, as the Federation reminds us, "we have gold in our rivers".
