Directive 2006/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life.

The present Directive makes provision on the quality of fresh waters with a view to supporting fish life. In particular, the aim pursued is the protection and improvement of the quality of running or standing freshwater which supports, or which, if pollution were reduced or eliminated, would become capable of supporting, fish belonging to: (a) indigenous species offering a natural diversity; (b) species the presence of which is judged desirable for water management purposes by the competent authorities of the Member States. Annex I sets out physical and chemical parameters applicable to the waters designated by the Member States.