Freshwater Biological Association

07/09/2026

An awesome Arctic charr announcement to start the week... as the FBA is delighted to share that we will soon be growing our team to support an ambitious new phase of work to secure the future of one of England’s most threatened freshwater fish.

Following the award of £690,000 from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP), we're excited to be strengthening our team to support delivery of the Lake District Charr Recovery & Management (LD-CHARM) project. The funding marks a significant step forward for our species recovery programme, supporting conservation action to help protect Arctic charr and the freshwater ecosystems on which they depend.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this transformational grant from the Natural England Species Recovery Programme. The LD-CHARM partnership is thrilled to continue delivering clear, evidence-based steps towards recovering Arctic charr populations in England. Local populations of little-known species like the Arctic charr are at risk of silently slipping into extinction. This investment will help us lay the foundations for meaningful conservation action for this Ice-age relic.”
— Dr. Louise Lavictoire, Head of Science, FBA

Find out more about new investment and growing capacity for Arctic charr recovery in the Lake District
https://www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/new-investment-and-growing-capacity-for-arctic-charr-recovery-in-the-lake-district

LD-CHARM is a collaboration between the FBA involving Natural England, Environment Agency, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - UKCEH, University of Glasgow, UHI Inverness, Lake District National Park, Echoview, blueprint subsea, alongside invaluable contributions from local fishers and communities.

By combining state-of-the-art science, decades of data and expertise, and local knowledge, the partnership is uniquely positioned to deliver meaningful conservation outcomes for the Arctic charr.



Amazing underwater photograph of Arctic charr returning to spawning grounds at dusk by Lindsay McCrae. Plus photos showing some of the LD-CHARM team carrying out Arctic charr eDNA sampling and using videography to observe Arctic charr spawning on Windermere in the Lake District, Cumbria.

02/09/2026

For all fans of healthy freshwater habitats and mussels of the pearly kind... we have some excellent news to share with you! This year has shaped up to be the most successful year ever for our releases back to the wild of juvenile freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, since the FBA species recovery project started back in 2007.

In 2025, we reached the impressive target of 5000 pearl mussels released since the project's inception. In 2026 however, and due to significant funding support from the LIFE Programme and Natural England's Species Recovery Programme, we aim to release around 4000 mussels – a truly monumental effort by all involved at the FBA and across our fantastic partnerships!

“It is incredibly rewarding to be in a position where we can return so many freshwater pearl mussels to the river systems where they belong, allowing them to establish and positively influence their environment for years to come. By continuing to refine and improve our techniques and practices, we hope to build on this success in future years, returning as many mussels as possible to their natural habitat. In doing so, we can support existing local populations while also creating space at the Species Recovery Centre for more juveniles to come through in future breeding cycles.”
— Jodie Warren, Pearl Mussel Officer at the FBA

Read the article to find out more:
https://www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/freshwater-pearl-mussel-recovery-reaches-new-milestone-to-help-restore-wild-populations

The Species Recovery Programme is a long-term government initiative, led by Natural England, to protect some of England’s most threatened species. In Cumbria, the programme is supporting major river restoration and freshwater pearl mussel recovery work across the region. Massive thanks to all our supporters, partners and volunteers who make this conservation work possible. 🩵

And many thanks to George Carr Media for the amazing photography of the recent releases of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels into the wild.

28/08/2026

💧 When was the last time you really looked at what’s living in a lake?
Our lakes are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, but they’re also facing growing pressures – from pollution and habitat degradation to climate change and the impacts of changing land use.
The good news? You can help us understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
This , we’re highlighting Lakefly, a citizen science project from the Freshwater Biological Association that gives volunteers the skills to monitor lake health by surveying the freshwater invertebrates living around lake margins. And you don’t need to be a freshwater expert to get involved!
Every survey and every record adds another piece to the puzzle, helping build a clearer picture of how our lakes are changing over time. 🪰🔎🌊
Healthy lakes are essential for healthy freshwater ecosystems, thriving wildlife and resilient communities. And protecting them is something we can all play a part in.
👉 Read the full article to discover more about Lakefly, why monitoring our lakes matters and how you can get involved. https://c-js.uk/4wYVG7z

27/08/2026

Today we are celebrating World Lake Day... with a new article about protecting lakes through science, partnerships and people.

Although lakes cover less than two per cent of the Earth's surface, they store a significant proportion of the world's accessible surface freshwater and provide habitats for an extraordinary diversity of plants and animals.

Yet many lakes are under increasing pressure. Pollution, nutrient enrichment, habitat degradation, climate change, invasive non-native species and growing demands from agriculture and human activity are changing freshwater ecosystems at an unprecedented rate.

World Lake Day is an opportunity not only to celebrate these remarkable ecosystems, but also to highlight the importance of long-term scientific monitoring and the growing role that citizen scientists can play in safeguarding freshwater biodiversity.

In an article for Countryside Jobs Service we explore the importance of monitoring for lake health and introduce Lakefly, our citizen science initiative. Developed by the FBA in partnership with Natural England and funded through Defra's Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme, Lakefly adapts the successful Riverfly citizen science approach for lakes. Volunteers survey freshwater invertebrates around lake margins, providing valuable data that can help scientists build a clearer picture how lake ecosystems are changing over time.

“The FBA is heavily invested in Lakefly. It's a great example of citizen science in action. Monitoring lake ecology is often under-resourced and Lakefly helps to fill critical gaps in knowledge with robust citizen science and data. Securing sustainable funding will enable the FBA to unlock the programme's full potential and continue building this valuable network of volunteers and partners.”
– Simon Johnson, Executive Director at the Freshwater Biological Association

Many thanks to all the funders and supporters of the Lakefly pilot including Natural England, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)'s NCEA programme, Lake District National Park, Angling Trust, and Friends of the Ullswater Way.

Read the article to discover more and find out how you can get involved:
https://www.countryside-jobs.com/article/protecting-lakes-through-science-partnerships-and-people

26/08/2026

Greetings fine freshwater friends... we are thrilled to share with you the August issue of FBA Voice!

Here at the FBA we've been busy developing our ambitions for freshwater species recovery and this issue is packed with updates on the milestone achievements and next steps of our freshwater pearl mussel and Arctic charr recovery programmes. This nature recovery work is only possible thanks to the support from our incredible network of action-focused scientists, conservation managers, volunteers, members, fellows and partner organisations.

Without you none of this would be possible, so we would like to say a massive thank you! And share particular thanks to Natural England, the Environment Agency, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales, Yorkshire Water, and the Lake District National Park for their dedicated help and funding over the years.

So we hope you enjoy this collection of latest news from the FBA freshwater world... with marvellous Margaritifera margaritifera, splendid Salvelinus alpinus, and carnivorous caddisfly.

And why, we hear you ask, is there a trumpet? Well we invite you to pucker up and blast into the August issue of FBA Voice to find out!

https://mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-to-the-august-2026-issue-of-fba-voice

20/08/2026

If you're passionate about Arctic charr and freshwater species conservation... check out our latest job opportunity!

We’re looking for a dynamic and passionate leader to take on a truly rewarding role as Arctic Charr Project Manager at the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA), an exciting addition to the FBA’s species recovery remit.

Based at our Species Recovery Centre on the western shore of Windermere and our offices in Milnthorpe near Kendal, Cumbria, this is your opportunity to combine exceptional organisational skills with a love for species conservation in a varied and fascinating role. This will primarily involve managing the Lake District Charr Recovery & Management (LD-CHARM) partnership and all work packages funded through the Natural England Species Recovery Programme, announced in July 2026. The successful candidate will work closely with the FBA Species Recovery Manager and Head of Science to ensure effective collaboration, delivery of project objectives, and alignment with wider organisational priorities.

Interested? There are a few days left before the application deadline on Monday 24 August 2026!

Find out more and apply:
https://www.fba.org.uk/arctic-charr-project-manager

The FBA is more than just a research organisation – it’s a mission-driven environmental NGO dedicated to protecting and restoring the life of our rivers and lakes. Working here means being part of a team that combines science with a deep respect for nature, driving real-world impact for freshwater ecosystems.

At the heart of our work is our Species Recovery Centre on the western shore of Windermere, a unique facility where we carry out our vital science and conservation work. This centre is home to our pioneering efforts in freshwater pearl mussel conservation breeding and is the base for our ambitious Arctic charr research and conservation programme, focusing on one of the UK’s most iconic and vulnerable fish species. The Lake District Charr Recovery & Management (LD-CHARM) project aims to secure the future of Arctic charr in our lakes by studying the species ecology, genetics, and responses to multiple stressors, recommending targeted conservation/restoration actions. This work is not only scientifically exciting but vital for maintaining the health and heritage of freshwater ecosystems.

The LD-CHARM project is a consortium led by the FBA involving Natural England Environment Agency UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - UKCEH University of Glasgow UHI Inverness Lake District National Park Echoview blueprint subsea

19/08/2026

Our team at Natural England and Environment Agency have been out gathering the last water samples for our multi-year eDNA programme.

This final year is testing whether juvenile mussels can be detected as they bury themselves completely in the river bed – and we have a known figure to record against from our releases!🦪 Fingers crossed! 🤞

18/08/2026

Do you love leeches? Wonderful! We do too... and if you are curious to discover more about leeches, we're delighted to let you know that fresh copies of our Freshwater Leeches of Britain and Ireland: Keys to the Hirudinea and a Review of their Ecology by J. M. Elliott and Michael Dobson are available in our shop!

This is an updated edition of an identification key to freshwater leeches, and an extensive advancement from the last version which was published in 1979, providing an approachable publication for those less acquainted (but keen to become more acquainted) with the noble freshwater leech.

Find out more and get sucked into a copy today:
https://www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/book-43



Image 1: Close-up of a fabulous freshwater leech.
Image 2: Cover of Freshwater Leeches of Britain and Ireland: Keys to the Hirudinea and a Review of their Ecology.
Image 3: Plate from Freshwater Leeches of Britain and Ireland.

13/08/2026

Did you know... there are presently no existing protections for freshwater ecosystems from underwater acoustic pollution? Noise pollution in freshwaters can be disruptive to aquatic life for many reasons. We were delighted to catch up with Jess Lister, a PhD student at Edinburgh Napier University, to hear more about her current research spotlighting this important issue.

Jess presented her fascinating keynote at the Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 on 'The Plecoptera’s Paradiddle – Advancing acoustic approaches to uncover stonefly behaviour'.

"Human-made acoustic pollution is now ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. While UK directives and policy statements exist to limit the levels of acoustic pollution in marine and terrestrial environments, no protection exists for freshwater environments. There is a pressing need to gather information about the role of this poorly understood and understudied pollutant in freshwaters."
– Jess Lister, PhD student, Edinburgh Napier University

The FBA Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 took place on Thursday 11 June at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus. Many thanks to all the amazing speakers, attendees and supporters. It was a truly inspiring day!

11/08/2026