Continuing Restoration Works For Fresh Water Pearl Mussels

Early this Autumn we will be continuing our work on the Afon Eden as part of the Sustainable Fisheries Mitigation project, delivered in partnership with Natural Resources Wales (NRW). This project builds on our long-term commitment to improving habitat for fish and freshwater pearl mussels — one of the UK’s rarest and most endangered species.

Creating better habitats

In the coming weeks, we will be:

• Adding more spawning habitat to benefit fish and the mussels that depend on them.

• Planting trees along the riverbank to provide shade, improve water quality, and create valuable wildlife habitat.

These actions help support the delicate balance needed for freshwater pearl mussels to thrive — clean, cool water and healthy fish populations.

Checking before we start

Before the habitat works begin, our team will be on site with NRW to carry out freshwater pearl mussel surveys. Using bathyscopes (viewing scopes for looking beneath the water’s surface), we’ll carefully check for mussels in the riverbed to ensure they are protected during the works.

Keep an eye out for updates and images from the project later this month, as we continue our mission to restore one of Wales’s most special rivers.