Wild salmon population in English rivers at crisis point

WILD salmon stocks are reaching crisis point and could be lost from English rivers without urgent action, the Environment Agency has warned.

Stocks of wild Atlantic salmon, which traditionally breed in UK rivers, have fallen to their lowest level on record, according to the latest assessment.

About 37 of the 42 salmon rivers in England are now categorised as “at risk”, which means stocks have fallen below sustainable levels – or “probably at risk”.

All 22 principal salmon rivers in Wales are said to be at risk or probably at risk, the report from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquacul- ture Science, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales shows.

Atlantic salmon, which travel between the sea and rivers to breed, are a classic part of the UK’S river life but climate change, which is leading to rising sea and river temperatures, as well as overfishing, is hitting stocks globally.

Poor water quality in rivers and estuaries can hit their life cycle and barriers such as dams and weirs stop them travelling upstream to suitable river spawning grounds, experts warn. Only one river in England – the Tyne in the North East – is classified as not at risk, and has improved due to better water quality in the estuary and action against barriers to fish migration. On the River Don in South Yorkshire, action to improve fish passes and initiatives to restore river habitat have also allowed salmon to return. Kevin Austin, the deputy director at the Environment Agency, warned: “Today’s assessment for England is of great concern.

He added: “Without urgent action wild Atlantic salmon could be lost from our rivers in our lifetimes.

“As the climate emergency becomes more acute, we need co-ordinated action between governments, partners and industry to enable stocks to stabilise and recover to sustainable levels.”

42

The number of English rivers containing wild salmon stocks, out of which 37 are now officially categorised as ‘at risk’