Freshwater Fish Directive

Directive 78/659/EEC of the Council of 18 July 1978 concerns the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to sustain fish populations. It concerns the quality of fresh waters and applies to those waters designated by the Member States as needing protection or improvement in order to sustain fish life; it does not apply to water used for intensive fish farming. Member States shall determine the values of the parameters applicable either to salmonid or cyprinid areas. This directive was transcribed into French law by Decree of 12/19/1991, which also transcribes other directives (bathing waters, shellfish waters, etc.). Directive 2006/44/EC of the Council of 6 September 2006 now in force replaced the 78/659/EEC, without changing fundamental provisions. Finally, Article 22 of the Water Framework Directive plans the repeal of the current Directive as of 22 December 2013.