The River Thames was declared biologically dead in the 1950s, but now it supports a huge amount of wildlife. The 2026 report indicates that improvements to sewage infrastructure have helped the river recover.
Fish are Once Again Returning to the Thames
The Thames is home to 125 species of fish, including sea bass, flounder and smelt. Freshwater fish, which include roach, dace and perch, can be found in the river, showing how, as the river flows, the conditions change. Cleaner water has helped certain species to thrive. The latest report found that the zinc levels in the water were half of what they were in the 1990s.
Phosphorus levels have also decreased, and improvements to sewage treatment have also helped to increase available oxygen. The Thames Tideway Tunnel is another investment and aims to capture 95% of untreated sewage that would have otherwise made its way into the Thames.
Even though the river’s recovery is showing strong signs, nitrate concentrations and warmer water still threaten wildlife. Continued investment is required to ensure that the river stays healthy for the future. Various initiatives, including Estuary Edges, native oyster restorations, and even the ZSL Fish Conservation, have all helped to clean water and rebuild coastal nurseries. The Transforming the Thames program has also restored saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, and oyster reefs, all of which help to support the ecosystem for the Thames.
More Londoners are Taking up Fishing
London’s canals, fisheries, and docks all offer people the chance to spend time outdoors without having to go outside the city. Anglers are now finding spots that go from Canary Wharf to Wandsworth. Modern media has helped fuel interest here, as shows like River Monsters continue to grow in popularity. BBC’s Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish takes more of a competitive approach, and challenges British anglers to hone their skills across the world.
Modern podcasts are also helping to draw people to the sport. The Lure Fishing Podcast explores fishing in the UK, and guests often appear, sharing their experience and their approach. Fishing imagery also appears in iGaming. Online bingo games like Pescador Bass Legends adopt a fishing theme with a waterside setting, showing how prominent imagery like this is, even to those who might not have picked up a rod before. Aside from this, fishing simulators offer the chance to fish virtually, tackling fish behaviour as well as different water conditions and tackle choices.
As there are now so many entry points for Londoners that don’t even involve going to the canal or shopping at a local angling store for bait, it’s not surprising to see that rod licences have increased for the third year in a row. For those in London, the Thames offers a diverse fishing location with a range of species. As many species are making a comeback, anglers are never quite sure what they are going to catch in the waterways, and this is one of the many factors that makes London fishing so unique.
