Fish bounce back as river recovers from historic pollution

Species thriving in Mersey but anglers say sewage still dumped

- EDWARD BARNES & LIV CLARKE

MORE species of fish have been recorded in the River Mersey than ever before as pollution levels drop. In 2023 there were 45 different kinds of fish found in the river by The Mersey Estuary Species Hunt, a partnership between anglers and the Mersey Rivers Trust.

It's been described as the greatest river recovery in Europe. The figure is higher than the 37 species found in the hunt's first year in 2022, where five types of sharks were found.

Although the news has been welcomed as a sign the river is improving, there are still concerns about continued pollution including from sewage discharges. Cod, rays, scorpion fish, different types of eel, herring, stickleback, as well as edible species like bass, sole, and plaice were all identified in the river this year.