Fisheries Strategy

The Mersey Rivers Trust has developed a long-term fisheries strategy for the Mersey Basin with the ambition to restore the fish population of the Mersey rivers by 2050 to those existing prior to the industrial revolution.

The strategy reflects the improving state of the River Mersey with fish starting to return to the rivers following the devasting impact on fish (and other river ecology) from the industrial revolution and urbanisation.

The strategy provides key objectives for increasing the diversity of fish species by 2050 for the Upper Mersey, Lower Mersey, Weaver, Irwell and Alt catchments. The objectives take account of the fish species that used to live in the Mersey Basin before the industrial revolution, with the aim of restoring these native species to our rivers as far as possible.

We have engaged with fishing organisations and other interested stakeholders about the strategy and continue to welcome your views.

Please contact info@merseyrivers.org if you would like more information or to provide any views or comments on the strategy.

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