PROJECTS

We are collaborating with a variety of groups on several new and exciting projects, designed to promote and/or facilitate

  1. research on river conservation,

  2. river conservation activities and

  3. fishery development/ improvement activities. A selection of past and ongoing projects are considered below:

  • We have supported habitat restoration works at Kings Weir fishery on the River Lea. The group, in collaboration with Kings Weir fishery members and the Environment Agency, applied gravel jetting to improve the quality of spawning gravels prior to Barbel spawning.

  • We are supporting a Nottingham University-led PhD on the effects of litter on fish community characteristics and behaviours. We will provide more information as the project develops.

  • We are supporting a Loughborough University-led PhD titled “spawning habitat  characteristics of lithophilic fish – using experimental approaches to inform river restoration”. We will provide more information as the project develops.

  • The group proudly supported a Salford College-led river clean-up scheme. The program aims to improve riverine habitats in and around Salford and provides students some hands-on experience of river conservation.

  • We have run a work party and litter pick on the River Goyt, in collaboration with the Mersey Rivers Trust.

  • The group have helped secure funding to finance replacement of an existing access bridge at Thorney Weir Fishery on the River Colne. This project is ongoing and represents a collaboration between Thorney Weir Fishery, Affinity Water and the RACG.

  • We are hosting a river fish spawning survey in collaboration with Dr Andrew Pledger (Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University). The survey aims to gain better understanding of where and when river fish spawn at a national scale.

To find out more or to report spawning activity, please visit the survey page here.