Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd - cartref

Freshwater Fish Directive

Aims to protect and improve the quality of rivers and lakes to encourage healthy fish populations

The EC Directive on Freshwater Fish is designed to protect and improve the quality of rivers and lakes to encourage healthy fish populations.

It sets water quality standards and monitoring requirements for areas of water which are chosen, or 'designated' by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government.

These 'designated' areas of water are selected because they are significant bodies of water which are capable of supporting fish populations.

In the UK, the directive is implemented through the Surface Waters Regulations 1997.

A total of 34,500km of rivers and canals and more than 200 still waters are designated under the directive.

The list of designated waters is held on the Defra website in a series of Schedules.

In 2013, this directive will be repealed. Waters currently designated as Fish Directive waters will become protected areas under the Water Framework Directive.