A watershed moment
26 February, 2024
Simon Johnson, Executive Director of the Freshwater Biological Association, reflects on a watershed moment.
The Freshwater Biological Association is 95 years old.
During this time, we have witnessed the unprecedented and increasing pressures that society has unleashed upon on our valuable, yet fragile freshwater eco-systems. We may have reached a crisis point, but I am still convinced that we can turn things around for our freshwater ecosystems
I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the efforts of NGOs, citizen scientists, campaigners and journalists demanding urgent action, investment and better regulation to address the sewage issue. I have a new sense of hope that polluters will be better held to account and that they (not the customer) will foot the bill.
Campaigners across the country are unveiling a compelling, mind bogglingly complex and often obfuscated picture of under-investment in infrastructure and the regulation of the wastewater sector (including land management) and the resulting negative impacts on people and nature.
At times, I have found it very difficult to unpick this multi-dimensional issue! However, the one certainty I have is that the systems, legislation and resources that are in place to protect and conserve freshwaters are clearly not working. By way of illustration, the Water Framework Directive (once hailed as Europe’s most powerful environmental legislation) has spectacularly failed to meet legally binding targets to achieve Good Ecological Status on the vast majority of our waterbodies in the UK. This is simply not good enough.
Although the Freshwater Biological Association is not a campaigning organisation, we have a voice and will use it to influence important issues affecting freshwaters. For example, we have recently taken the decision to stand down from the Love Windermere Partnership - read the full story here.
This decision is bold, brave and not without risk. However, we felt it was critical to have a stronger public visibility and a clear position on the future of Windermere; a lake that is an important part of our heritage and organisational DNA. As a small NGO, with limited resources, we must be confident that the partnerships we participate in are going to be effective engine rooms for change and drive better and faster outcomes for freshwater ecosystems. We no longer feel the Love Windermere Partnership meets this test.
We are not standing back from Windermere and we will continue to play and grow our part in influencing and shaping a brighter future of England’s most iconic lake. We will do this by continuing to develop and deliver independent, action focused science and advocacy. What happens on this lake has huge importance for the future of freshwaters in the UK. We will continue to use our efforts, our science and our data to better understand, advocate and support efforts to rejuvenate Windermere and all freshwater ecosystems for people and nature. Windermere matters to us, it matters to the country and it matters to the world.
Simon Johnson
Executive Director of the Freshwater Biological Association.
