Iconic river facing 'ecological disaster'

ONE of the country’s most popular rivers is facing the threat of ecological disaster, according to some experts.

Swathes of the River Wye, which borders Wales and England, turned a worrying shade of green at the start of the season following an intense algal bloom, exacerbated by increased phosphate inputs from the growing number of chicken farms which operate along its course.

One of the primary concerns of the Wye and Usk Foundation, which has highlighted the issue, is the effect the discoloration is having on the Wye’s aquatic plants, which provide essential habitat for the natural food that the river’s fish depend upon.

The Foundation’s CEO Simon Evans says:

“The impact of new poultry developments is not being considered. The result is a river, once voted the UK’s favourite, turning a putrid green every summer and having its ecology destroyed.”

Fish Legal, the body which acts on behalf of member clubs of the Angling Trust, has put the environment regulator Natural Resources Wales ‘on notice’ over the issue, under which the latter will be required to investigate the problem and ensure that the farms in question put in place proposals to prevent further damage occurring.