Thames Estuary conservation
In the last 30 years, the Thames Estuary, UK has become one of the world's most unpolluted metropolitan tideways, but its rich variety of wildlife remains a well kept secret.
ZSL has a number of Thames Estuary Projects, falling under the Marine and Freshwater conservation programme, that study the Thames and its diverse ecology.
Commercially important fish species such as Dover sole and sea bass use the Thames as spawning and nursery grounds. The estuary's mud flats provide an essential feeding ground for the internationally important migrant bird populations and recent research, carried out by ZSL, has also confirmed that dolphins, porpoises and seals are all regular visitors to the Thames.
Thames eel research
ZSL is monitoring eel migrations in the Thames and its tributaries as a result of the decline in the European eel fishery.
Invasive species in the Thames
Every year in November the weir at Richmond Lock is lifted to allow a portion of the river to drain naturally at low tide. Here at ZSL we use this opportunity to scout the river bed for any species that are not native to this country's waterways.
ZSL Eel Monitoring
Thames fish monitoring
ZSL in collaboration with partners launched a long-term project monitoring Thames fish.
This includes monitoring the effects of pollution incidents and the overall water quality of the Thames, natural fluctuations in important commercial and recreational fish populations, and news of rare and interesting fish visitors.
Thames marine mammal survey
Marine mammals are known to visit the Thames estuary but, until now, sightings have not been formally recorded. This survey is ongoing and we need your help with sightings.