A recent health check of the River Thames in London has discovered that wildlife has returned to the water and the ecosystem is recovering, 60 years after it was declared biologically dead.
Research from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) found seahorses, eels, seals and sharks in the tidal river, showing positive signs for its future.
The first ever State of the Thames Report from ZSL used 17 different indicators to judge the health of the natural environment, discovering dedicated conservation efforts had made a massive difference to the ecosystem.
The report found an increase in a range of bird species, marine mammals and natural habitats, including carbon-capturing saltmarsh, as well as the 'surprising' seahorses, eels, seals and sharks which include tope, starry smooth hound and spurdog.
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The number of fish species in the river has been in declined since the early 1990s.
Of particular worry is that climate change has increased the temperature of the waterway by 0.2 degrees per year, as well as an increase in sea levels.
ZSL Conservation Programme lead for wetland ecosystem recovery, Alison Debney said: "Estuaries are one of our neglected and threatened ecosystems.
"They provide us with clean water, protection from flooding, and are an important nursery for fish and other wildlife.
"The Thames estuary and its associated 'blue carbon' habitats are critically important in our fight to mitigate climate change and build a strong and resilient future for nature and people.
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"This report has enabled us to really look at how far the Thames has come on its journey to recovery since it was declared biologically dead, and in some cases, set baselines to build from in the future."
Dissolved oxygen concentration in the Thames has improved, which is a positive sign because low levels of oxygen concentration can kill fish, and phosphorus concentrations have fallen, which has been associated with improvement in sewage treatment.
Sewage spill into the water has been a long-term concern as it leads to issues such as nitrate concentration, which can impact water quality and be damaging to wildlife.
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There are a number of other concerning chemicals in the water too, which will hopefully be improved by upcoming sewage improvements.
Liz Wood-Griffiths, Head of Consents at Tideway said: "This report comes at a critical time and highlights the urgent need for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, known as London's new super sewer.
"The new sewer, which is due to be complete in 2025, is designed to capture more than 95 per cent of the sewage spills that enter the River from London's Victorian sewer system.
"It will have a significant impact on the water quality, making it a much healthier environment for wildlife to survive and flourish."
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The Environment Agency is also planning for climate-induced changes with their Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, which sets out a long-term approach for adapting to rising sea levels.
The Thames supports over 115 species of fish, 92 species of bird and has almost 600 hectares of saltmarsh which is a crucial habitat for a range of wildlife.
Featured Image Credit: A.P.S. (UK) / Alamy Stock Photo