Aquatic

Freshwater Invertebrate Welfare and River Health

Freshwater invertebrates are among the most important indicators of river health, and their welfare and abundance affects entire aquatic ecosystems.

Key Facts

Over 4,000 species of freshwater invertebrate are found in UK rivers
Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are particularly sensitive to pollution
Water quality improvements since the 1980s have allowed invertebrate recovery in some rivers
Agricultural runoff remains the biggest threat to freshwater invertebrate populations
Invertebrate decline affects fish, birds, and other predators that depend on them

Welfare Considerations

While the sentience of most freshwater invertebrates remains uncertain, their ecological role is critical to the welfare of vertebrates that depend on them. Invertebrate communities are reliable indicators of ecosystem health. Protecting and restoring invertebrate populations protects the entire food web and the welfare of vertebrate species throughout aquatic systems.

What You Can Do

Support river restoration charities working on water quality improvement
Advocate for agricultural buffer strips along watercourses
Participate in river invertebrate monitoring through the FBA or local river trusts
Reduce phosphate use in household cleaning products
Report pollution incidents affecting watercourses to the Environment Agency