alarming Fish Sores in the River Severn: A Call for Environmental Action

Sores on River Severn Fish Raise Alarm

In early summer, anglers reported unusual sores on fish in the River Severn. These sores are black, swollen, and blister-like. Veteran anglers, like Phil O’Callaghan, are concerned about the river’s health. They noticed that the river has changed, with murky water and a smelly layer of sediment.

O’Callaghan is part of a group of anglers, swimmers, and river enthusiasts working to protect the Severn. They worry the river will face the same fate as the nearby Wye, which has suffered from pollution due to intensive poultry farming and raw sewage discharges from Severn Trent facilities.

Over the last two years, O’Callaghan and 68 others have gathered over 970 water samples from 70 sites. They track phosphate, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, ammonia, and temperature. They send results to Bristol University for analysis and share images of the sores with the Environment Agency.

Glyn Marshall, who oversees monitoring, reported that water quality has not improved. Phosphate levels in Worcester reached a record high, while harmful algae blooms appeared during hot weather. The entire ecosystem is at risk, threatening the biodiversity of the river.

A recent report revealed that 61.5% of tested sites had excessive phosphate, an increase from 42% in the previous year. Additionally, nearly 60% of areas exceeded safe nitrate levels.

High phosphate and nitrate levels lead to eutrophication, causing excessive algae growth. This depletes oxygen in the water and harms aquatic life. Sewage pollution and agricultural runoff are major contributors, with sewage discharges into the Severn averaging over 48 each day.

In rural areas, intensive farming is responsible for about 70% of the phosphate entering the river. Alison Caffyn, a local resident and volunteer, has researched the impact of intensive poultry units in Shropshire and Herefordshire. She discovered that over 51 million chickens are raised in these units.

Caffyn is challenging Shropshire council’s approval of a new poultry unit near existing facilities, arguing it violates biosecurity regulations. She asserts that transferring manure to an anaerobic digestion unit will not solve the problem of nitrate and phosphate pollution.

“We cannot allow more poultry units,” Caffyn said, stressing the need for action to protect the Severn.

Severn Trent is implementing a £450 million plan to reduce sewage spills. Neerja Upadhyay, of Severn Trent, reported progress in enhancing storage and network efficiency to improve river health.

Conclusion

The health of the River Severn is in jeopardy. Local efforts aim to monitor and combat rising pollution levels. Collective action is essential to safeguard this vital waterway for future generations.