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Effective Management and Restoration of the River Lamprey Stocks in the River Trent

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Project Description

River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) are widely considered a threatened species in Europe, are listed as a protected species under Annex III of the Bern Convention and require protection by member states of the EU under Annex II of the Habitats and Species Directive (92/43/EEC). However, under Annex V of the same directive, river lamprey exploitation may be allowed if the population is healthy, sustainable and there are no adverse effects, and thus may be subject to management measures. The river lamprey is an anadromous migratory species, requiring unrestricted movement between coastal waters and freshwater in order to complete its life cycle. River lamprey grow to maturity (1 to 2 years after entering the sea) in Western European coastal waters (or, in a few cases in large lakes) and then migrate upstream into rivers, usually in the autumn to spawn the following spring. Larvae spend several years in silt beds in rivers before metamorphosing and migrating downstream to estuaries. The decline of the species in Europe has been attributed to a number of pressures including river regulation, barriers to migration, habitat degradation and pollution, while exploitation during upstream spawning migration has also represented a threat to their sustainability. Research into exploited river lamprey populations and their migration in human-modified catchments is hence required for effective management and protection of this threatened species.

Status Project Complete
Value £99,107.00
Project Dates Aug 1, 2019 - Aug 31, 2021

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