Posted on: 6 March, 2025
It aims to restore our waterways by preventing invasive non-native species and has had a huge impact on local and national waterways and communities, with water users and companies of all sizes hoping to receive accreditation from the scheme.
Running since 2019, AQUA has continued to expand over the past 12 months, with 10 new sites becoming accredited, bringing the total to 70.
An additional 20 sites are also currently going through the accreditation process. They include Wessex Water, Cumbria Rivers Trust, Canoe Wales, the Tweed Forum, plus Highbridge Angling Club, Clevedon Marine Lake and priority sites in Southampton, which are all due to be complete over the next few months.
AQUA began as a regional pilot trial and has expanded nationally, delivering biosecurity and awareness to over 30,000 water users. It ensures its partners actively conserve their sites to maximise native aquatic and riparian diversity, minimising the threat of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) such as zebra mussel, killer shrimp and azolla.
Invasive species cost the UK more than £1.9 billion annually and include fish, invertebrates, and plants that have a negative effect on our native species. This scheme highlights the importance of DEFRA’s ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ protocol, for all equipment used and worn when entering waterways, to prevent the spread of INNS and diseases. The aim is to make the accreditation an intrinsic part of all water sites’ biosecurity plans, as a standard UK metric.
DEFRA’s ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ method includes the checking of all equipment that has been used in the waterway and then washing it down on-site by stations provided by the waterway management. It is then recommended that all users do a secondary clean, washing their equipment at home, away from any drainage systems, and leaving the equipment to dry in the sun for around 24-48 hours. This protocol minimises the likelihood of transferring organisms, pathogens and animals, including INNS, from one site to another.
Sites looking to be accredited begin by going through a 10 step process, which includes, monitoring their site for non-native invasive species, appointing a biosecurity site guardian, erecting signage that can be seen clearly, posting about the protocol on social media and their website, and supplying washdown equipment for all water users. Human activities are the greatest cause of INNS spread, such as boating, kayaking, sailing and angling, and AQUA targets the pathways of transfer by implementing behavioural change within the systematic use of waterways.
The project, which is led by Neil Green, UK Biosecurity Conservation Officer for Bristol Zoological Society, was recently one of 23 native species conservation projects shortlisted in the BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Great British Wildlife Restoration Awards.
The long list of candidates for this award proved the heroic efforts being made by British zoos and aquariums to help restore habitats, educate communities and even reintroduce species. There was huge diversity in the types of conservation projects shortlisted, with the winner being voted for by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords.
Chester Zoo took home the award on this occasion for their project on preventing the extinction of Wales’ Cotoneaster Cambricus, a Critically Endangered plant, found only on Great Orme, Llandudno, Wales.
Although not successful this time around, the AQUA project is a wonderful project and continues to get national interest with a bright future that could make a huge change to our waterways!
As well as continuing its UK expansion, there are plans to compile a digital handbook, which can be easily shared between waterway users and managers, as well as an automated online accreditation system that water sites and communities can apply to.
Find out more about the AQUA scheme here: https://rapidresponse773687172.wordpress.com/
Click below to find out more about our UK conservation work.
Become a member today for a year of wild adventure, and help protect the animals and habitats you love by supporting our conservation charity.
