WildFish today published a new report about the artificial barriers driving wild fish decline, and the steps we can take to restore river connectivity.
The Broken Rivers report highlights the shocking scale of river fragmentation and the number of obsolete barriers that no longer serve their original purposes – yet continue to block migratory routes for wild fish.
Setting out why river connectivity matters, the report considers the wider environmental impacts and the evidence to support barrier removal, which is clear and growing.
The report highlights the need for a coordinated, national strategy and makes the following policy recommendations:
1. Establish a national target for river connectivity
2. Create a national barrier removal programme
3. Introduce the long-promised fish passage regulations
4. Strengthen River Basin Management Plans
Dr. Janina Gray, Head of Science and Policy and Deputy CEO at WildFish, said:
“River fragmentation is one of the most widespread and significant pressures affecting freshwater ecosystems in the UK. Scientific evidence demonstrates that the impacts extend beyond fish passage alone. Barriers fragment habitats, isolate populations, alter sediment transport, degrade water quality, trap pollutants and reduce ecosystem resilience. For species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel, already facing severe declines, restoring connectivity is increasingly essential for long-term survival.”
“The solutions are well understood. Barrier removal consistently delivers the greatest ecological benefits, often producing rapid improvements in habitat quality, species abundance and ecosystem function. Where removal is not possible, effective fish passage measures remain essential. The UK has both an opportunity and an obligation to address river fragmentation.”
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