Record numbers of species found in River Mersey

Angler Damian Owens with a species of smooth hound shark found living in the Mersey

The River Mersey has been described as "the greatest river recovery in Europe" after the highest levels of species to date living there were recorded.

Forty-five species of fish found were found in 2023 by The Mersey Estuary Species Hunt, a partnership between anglers and the Mersey Rivers Trust.

Species living in the river include rays, scorpion fish, types of eel and the rare venomous bluemouth rockfish.

"It's no longer the dirty Mersey," said Mike Duddy of the Mersey Rivers Trust.

"The River Mersey is recovering after 200 years of industrial pollution, possibly the greatest river recovery in Europe," he said.

Tony Shep with a cod he caught near Everton's forthcoming new stadium

"Since the early 1990s a huge amount of money and effort has been spent on cleaning the River Mersey up and we are seeing the benefit of that in all the different species of fish that have recolonised and made it their home."

Mr Duddy said a survey in 2002 found only 15 species and to see numbers increase to 45 by 2023 was "pretty special".

"It's not only fish," he said.

"It's mammals like otters, dolphins, harbour porpoises, birds - the Mersey is becoming a really important overwintering destination for a huge variety of different birds."

Mike Duddy of the Mersey Rivers Trust, said the days of the "dirty Mersey" were over

However, he said there was still a lot of sewage in the river as well as microplastics and chemicals but every year the amount was reducing.

"We are going in the right direction," he said.

A spokesman for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said the Mersey had undergone "a remarkable regeneration in recent years".

"Having once been considered biologically dead, it is a sign of its ongoing recovery that it is now home to such a wide variety of species," he said.

"Yet, despite the progress that has been made, it is clear that there is still a significant amount of work to do."

The anglers discovered the Mersey now has at least 45 species of fish

The Environment Agency said it would continue to support and monitor the river.

A spokesman for water company United Utilities said since 1985, as a key partner in the Mersey Basin Campaign, the company had invested over £3bn in treatment works and sewer systeand planned to invest nearly £2bn in the Mersey and its tributaries by 2030.