Fish Local Priority Species: Conservation
Lower native fish stocks is one of the main reasons for water courses failing to reach ‘Good Ecological Status’ under the Water Framework Directive. This is predominantly due to pollution, siltation, habitat deterioration and barriers to passage.

Causes of loss or decline

• Silting up of a water body (particularly important where spawning habitats, such as gravel beds, are present)
• Interference with fish migration by barriers, weirs, culverts etc
• Poor or reduced water quality including agricultural runoff, sewage discharge or pollution
• Drastic changes in water levels &/or flow levels in a water body
• Changes in vegetation in the waterbody or on the bankside
• Over fish-stocking, predation or over-fishing
• Invasive species such as non-native Signal Crayfish.

Good Conservation Management

Rivers and streams are best sustained for priority fish species by:

• Maintaining and restoring natural habitat features of river beds/banks
• Retaining and improving bank side cover, fenced off from grazing.
• Maintaining water flow, preventing siltation, promoting aeration
• Preventing farm nutrient and other runoff, including buffer zones
•  Enabling fish migration, removing barriers or installing fish passes.

 Fish Species Conservation