Wild River Lamprey Conservation Welfare

River lampreys are declining across the UK due to migration barriers and water quality issues - their welfare is linked to river health.

Key Facts

River lampreys are ancient jawless fish that spend their larval stage buried in river silt
Adults migrate upstream to spawn and die after spawning - their bodies contribute to river nutrients
Weirs and other barriers fragment lamprey populations by blocking migration
Ammocoete larvae require fine silt substrates that are lost when rivers are dredged or modified
River lampreys are indicators of river health - their presence signals good water quality and connectivity
They are a protected species under the Habitats Regulations in the UK

Welfare Considerations

River lamprey welfare is entirely dependent on river connectivity and silt habitat quality. Their welfare crisis is a consequence of centuries of river modification. Fish passes designed for salmonids often fail to assist lampreys which cannot jump or swim powerfully. Lamprey-specific bypass channels and substrate restoration are the most direct welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support river restoration projects that include lamprey migration and habitat assessment
Advocate for lamprey-specific fish passes at barriers on lamprey rivers
Report lamprey observations to Environment Agency and local river trusts
Support Riverfly Partnership monitoring that includes lamprey in river health assessment
Donate to river trust habitat restoration projects in lamprey rivers