The Environment Agency has issued a warning over a pollution incident on the River Trent where cyanide and sewage were released into the water killing hundreds of fish.
Pollution incidents like this are one of the many threats facing our waterways in the UK. The RSPB, the WWF, the Association of Rivers Trusts and the Angling Trust recently launched the Our Rivers campaign to call for action to protect the UK’s waterways and its wildlife.
Here's what the RSPB's director of conservation Mark Avery had to say on the story.
“A recent report revealed that three quarters of our rivers are failing European targets for water quality, and now this incident has shown the devastating impact pollution can have on wildlife.
“The Government must surely now see the vital importance of putting in place tough legislation to protect our waterways – and the wildlife that rely on them – from the serious threats they face. And these laws need to be enforced so that those causing the damage are held to account.
“I understand hydrogen peroxide is being pumped into the river to mitigate the effects of the pollution. This sticking plaster will help deal with the emergency but it’s just not sustainable in the long term to be pouring more and more chemicals into our waters – we need to make sure that this kind of thing cannot happen in the first place.”
To find out more about the Our Rivers campaign and to adopt a stretch of river near you visit the website at www.ourrivers.org.uk