THREE of Britain's largest environmental bodies have launched High Court action against the government for failing to protect a number of freshwater sites, including Poole Harbour, from agricultural pollution.

WWF-UK, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal have accused the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency of dragging its feet over the protection of England's most precious rivers and wetlands.

David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, said: "Places like Poole Harbour are among the England's natural 'crown jewels'.

"It is shameful that these places, as well as cherished species like the kingfisher, Atlantic salmon and avocet have been put at long-term risk due to ministerial interference."

WWF-UK says that in January 2011 the government "put the brakes on" establishing Water Protection Zones (WPZs), despite publicly committing to them in 2009 after they were identified as the best way of tackling agricultural pollution.

Campaigners believe the government legally committed to ensuring 44 protected freshwater sites, including Poole Harbour, would be healthy by 2015.

However, as this deadline approaches pollution levels are still too high, they argue.

Investigations by the WWF-UK, Angling Trust and Fish Legal suggest that, although WPZs were established in law, Defra and the Environment Agency later agreed to only implement these zones, which introduce bespoke local measures, as a 'last resort'.

Since then, no WPZs have been established to tackle agricultural pollution.

The issue at Poole Harbour, which supports internationally important populations of breeding, passage and over wintering birds, is that the River Frome - the main river feeding the harbour - is failing to achieve good health because of farm pollution.

A study supporting the legal action reveals 80 per cent of nitrogen in the harbour is a result of pollution from agriculture, and that it poses a real threat to people and wildlife.

The Frome also carries sediment and phosphorous, the study reveals.

These nutrients can cause excessive algae growth, which can smother 15 per cent of the harbour during the summer months, it is argued.

Mr Nussbaum says the 'last resort' WPZ decision was an "ideologically driven decision, taken behind closed doors, which contravened the government's public position."

He added: "It also flies in the face of Defra's own analysis which has repeatedly shown that relying on voluntary action by farmers alone will not solve the problem of agricultural pollution."

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A DEFRA spokesperson said: "Rivers in England are the healthiest they have been for 20 years and we are committed to working closely with the farming community and environmental groups to further improve water quality.

Over the next five years, we are investing more than ever to promote environmentally-friendly farming practices to protect our rivers and lakes and

support wildlife.

"We are unable to comment on any ongoing legal proceedings."