Thames 'clean enough' for salmon

Thames 'clean enough' for salmon

Source: bbc news

3/26/2007

Salmon have been introduced to the River Thames after experts declared the water clean enough for the fish to breed - after almost 200 years.

The young salmon, were released into the Thames tributary, Lambourne river, at Welford, near Newbury, Berks.

Thames salmon died out in the 1830s, with salmon from other sources, which do not breed there, present from 1974, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

It is hoped a salmon population will be back in the River Thames in 5-10 years.

An EA spokesperson said the new salmon should stay in the river for a year before heading downstream through London, and up to Greenland before coming back to breed.