Freshwater Biological Association
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Freshwater Biological Association
@freshwaterbio.bsky.social
The FBA is an NGO and charitable trust dedicated to understanding and protecting freshwater environments across the world.
https://www.fba.org.uk/
We're thrilled to share with you an update from #Lakefly – a new citizen science project to monitor the health of our lakes, in partnership with @naturalengland.bsky.social, empowering volunteers to survey freshwater #invertebrates & provide data about water quality.

www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/la...
November 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
Once common in our glacial lakes, the Arctic charr is now increasingly under pressure. We're supporting @freshwaterbio.bsky.social to improve this fish's spawning habitats, especially in the Lake District. Learn more about this special species with this brilliant new short film: youtu.be/tZW7IORRkcc
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
Much talk all the time of freshwater wetlands being great filters & cleaning water. We must remember that sending dirty water into wetlands destroys them. There is nothing more certain in science than that. Make wetlands clean!!! @ramsar.org @freshwaterbio.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
✨ Last chance to get your ticket! ✨

📆 The Riverfly Conference - 14th November, at the Natural History Museum.

🐛 We're thrilled to announce our keynote speaker, Josh Cohen at Leeds University, discussing their project: Riverkin.

👉 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theriverflypartnership/1670265
November 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This Microscope Monday 🔬 for your #FreshwaterPearlMussel pleasure... we present some recently excysted juveniles.

The juveniles, from the #RiverIrt, #WestCumbria, will now be reared at the Ark (for 3 years min.) before being translocated back to their native river to reinforce the wild population.
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
If, like us, you're interested in the water quality of #Windermere? Check out ORIGIN: Finding the Source of Windermere.

The film exposes the freshwater challenges facing England's largest lake, setting out how it can be protected for future generations.

Watch ORIGIN here:
www.savewindermere.com
Save Windermere · Stop the Sewage
We're on a mission to Save Windermere, the jewel in the crown of the Lake District National Park. We demand an end to all United Utilities' sewage discharges into the Windermere catchment. Algal bloom...
www.savewindermere.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
📰 Our geography colleagues and doctoral students are leading a cutting-edge research project in Cumbria on how simple on-farm features like sediment ponds can help farmers manage runoff, protect valuable soil, and support vital biodiversity.

Read the full story here!
New research highlights how sediment ponds help farmers protect land and boost biodiversity
A research project in Cumbria is shedding light on how simple on-farm features like sediment ponds can help farmers manage runoff, protect valuable soil, and support vital biodiversity – all while con...
www.lboro.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Celebrating beauty in boggy places this Microscope Monday 🔬 with some dashing desmids!

If you're eager to take a deep dive into freshwater algal groups please check out 'Freshwater Algae: Their microscopic world explored'.
👁️🦠👁️ Get your algal-loving eyeballs on a copy:
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/fresh...
November 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Happy Halloween freshwater fiends! Do you believe in ghosts? Nope. How about ghost ponds?👻

Please allow us to introduce you to a the amazing #GhostPond aficionado @carlsayer.bsky.social for inspiring ponderings on the incredible power of ghost pond resurrections!

Check it out: youtu.be/bT1FLPCjEPw
October 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Data gathered over 2.5 years by citizen scientists for the #BigWindermereSurvey exposes ecological strain on England’s largest lake. In this film we join Simon Johnson, Dr Sophie Cowling, & Dr Ben Surridge, for insights on the two-year report & the importance of citizen science.
youtu.be/FEhIv274eCM
The Big Windermere Survey two-year report
YouTube video by Freshwater Biological Association
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Join us in celebrating #Microscope Monday 🔬with a dashing #Daphnia and a look back at one of the FBA's late freshwater scientists, #GeoffreyFryer.

Earlier this year a memoir of Geoffrey was prepared for Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society:
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
October 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Hello freshwater friends and fellow lovers of leeches... our October edition of FBA Voice is out now! This month includes features on #Riverkin #Riverflies #FreshwaterPearlMussels #FBAHistory #CitizenScience #MedicinalLeech and more!

Check out the October FBA Voice here:
mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...
October 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
Reexamining the links between #science and western colonization - My latest research and writing explores the relationship between the formation of the Freshwater Biological Association and the British #Empire.
@freshwaterbio.bsky.social #envhist #history #heritage
www.fba.org.uk/articles/the...
The Freshwater Biological Association of the British Empire – A colonial story of ambition and changing names — Freshwater Biological Association
Catherine Duigan is an FBA Fellow, an honorary Professor of Environmental Science at Aberystwyth University and an independent environmental consultant, researcher and writer living in Wales. In this ...
www.fba.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
For your Microscope Monday pleasure 🔬 we are delving into the delightful realm of diatoms!

If you are fascinated by #FreshwaterAlgae, check out 'Freshwater Algae: Their microscopic world explored' in the FBA shop.
👁️👁️ And get your algae-loving eyeballs on a copy today!
www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/fresh...
October 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Calling all riverfly fans... the eagerly awaited @riverflies.bsky.social 2026 Calendar is available to pre-order!

Featuring stunning images from their photo competition every purchase supports the citizen science programme helping safeguard the health of our rivers.💙

www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/river...
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Hello freshwater friends... Today we are celebrating #FreshwaterPearlMussel Monday with an update from the FBA Ark!

Here at the FBA Ark tagging juvenile freshwater pearl mussels is an important activity as part of our species recovery programme.

Find out more 👇
www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/ta...
October 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Do you feel a kinship to #freshwaters? Your local #river or #stream perhaps?

You do. Well you are experiencing something remarkable... #Riverkin: a relationship with freshwater! 💙💦

Here we catch up with Julia & Josh at water@leeds to find out more about Riverkin: 👇
www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/ri...
October 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
Late repost - announcing our new EFFS-chair, Mary Kelly-Quinn 💙wishing her all the best for this new adventure 👩‍🔬
We would like to share our heartfelt congratulations with FBA Fellow, Prof. Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn on her recent appointment as the new Chair of the European Federation for Freshwater Sciences (EFFS). 💙💦

More about EFFS:
www.freshwatersciences.eu/effs/

#European #Freshwaters #FreshwaterScience
October 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Hello #FreshwaterPearlMussel friends! This Microscope Monday 🔬 we have some fascinating photos of glochidia encystment on a brown trout.

An observation from the FBA Ark is that the growth of encysted glochidia is highly correlated to water temperature.
Find out more:
www.fba.org.uk/freshwater-p...
September 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Are you involved in freshwater biodiversity & water quality monitoring & research in the UK?
Our friends at @ukceh.bsky.social are inviting you to take part in the Changing Status of Freshwater Biodiversity in the UK survey, to develop an online workshop:
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/ceh-online...
September 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
What's to be done about the River Wensum? It is sadly degraded from the biodiverse Chalk River habitat which my Gt Uncle Oliver (the Weston Fishery) knew 80 years ago. Even though it is a SSSI and a SAC. Strong words
@freshwaterbio.bsky.social
www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/th... #Norfolk #biodiversity
September 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
Over 600 scientists have signed this joint statement calling for an update of the EU's water pollution standards ➡️ www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/sc...
Scientists' statement of support for updated EU water pollution standards — Freshwater Biological Association
We are pleased to share, as a matter of urgency, a statement of support for a swift and adequate update of the EU water pollution standards under the Environmental Quality Standards Directive, also am...
www.fba.org.uk
September 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
💧 Toxic water at the EU Parliament today wasn’t just a stunt - it was a warning

As trilogue talks draw to an end, EU lawmakers must stand firm:
⚠️ No more loopholes
⏰ No more delay
🌍 Protect our rivers, our health, and our future

Pollution is real. Action must be too.

Let us know what you think⬇️
September 23, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Freshwater Biological Association
In a new blog from @freshwaterbio.bsky.social, Simon Johnson (our charity's former Director) examines the declining health of Norfolk's River Wensum. With a precious ecosystem in serious peril, what will it take to save the river... before it's too late? Read more: www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/th...
September 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Greetings #freshwater friends! We're very pleased to announce that our September issue of FBA Voice is out now!

Featuring the #RiverWensum #ChalkRiver #ArcticCharr #Conservation #BigWindermereSurvey #CitizenScience & much more!

Dive into our freshwater newsletter here:
mailchi.mp/fba/welcome-...
September 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM