Richard Benyon MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

5^th July 2012

Dear Richard,

I am writing with regard to the recent devastation of the internationally protected population of Freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifer) at the Ennerdale Water Reservoir, River Ehen, Cumbria.

The Freshwater pearl mussel population in the Ennerdale Water Reservoir was the largest and healthiest population in England. However, water levels in the outflow from the reservoir reached such low levels that the water became hot and the oxygen concentration level dropped to a fatal degree.

Up to 90 per cent of the mussels in the affected area have been destroyed.

The wildlife charity, Buglife, have argued that this represents the UK’s biggest failure to implement the Habitats Directive to date. They have called for a public enquiry to ascertain the facts of the disaster and set out measures to ensure that the pearl mussel population can recover.

The Freshwater pearl mussel recently joined the giant panda on the Species on the Edge of Survival list, compiled by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN). As the UK is home to a large proportion of the world pearl mussel population we have an international responsibility to take action to protect the species.

Please can you tell me what the Government is doing to increase understanding of the causes of this disaster, what measures are being taken to prevent a similar event occurring again and what it will do to protect the remaining organisms? I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP Brighton Pavilion

Read the ministerial response here.