Why we must all fight to save this king of fish
OVER the past fourteen years I have travelled to more than 130 countries on angling adventures that most fisherman only dream of. I have wrestled with Wahoo in Hawaii, battled with Barracuda and Bone fish in Cuba, caught Arapaima on the Amazon and come face to face with a five-metre Great White Shark off the coast of South Africa.
In short, I have learned that it is very difficult to be unhappy when surrounded by fish.
But there is one particular species of fish that I adore more than most, and have done since I was a child – a creature that has been around for millions and millions of years, but that is sadly in rapid decline: the wild Atlantic salmon.
I’m always asked: ‘Can you remember your first fish?’
I think every angler can. For me, I was seven and I caught a fourpound wild brown trout with a fly rod and was surrounded by so many beautiful sights, including salmon leaping in the Tyne – I was mesmerised. I remember asking my uncle Matheson, who took me fishing that morning, why the salmon were leaping and he answered: ‘Well if you could leap like that, wouldn’t you?’
Of course this catch was a fluke and of course luck played a huge part, however the feeling was incredibly primal and even at a young age it was an experience that just made sense to me – it was a day and a feeling I never wanted to end. I felt at home and for me fishing today is just as wondrous, magical and life affirming as it was when I first cast a line as a young lad.
The idea that these fine animals could be driven to extinction is unthinkable. Out of every 100 salmon that leave our rivers for the sea, less than five return – a loss of nearly 70 per cent of the population in 25 years.
There are many culprits that are responsible for the devastating decrease in wild Atlantic salmon numbers.
Evidence from the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) suggests that the problems start when young salmon, known as smolts, leave their home river for the first time to venture out to sea to feed.
This is because salmon have to overcome many obstacles in both the freshwater and marine environments in order to survive. Many possible obstructions to their continued existence are completely natural such as like predatory birds, other larger fish species such as pike or large brown trout, along with otters or seals.
But there are increasingly manmade threats that are causing real concern. Wild Atlantic salmon thrive in cold, clean, water and their behaviour alters in accordance with water quality and temperature. Evidence shows us that salmon are comfortable between 8 and 14 degrees. However, once we start edging towards 20+ degrees, they become stressed – with higher mortality rates.
Climate change, and the subsequent rising temperature of the rivers and seas, is really impacting salmon survival.
Meanwhile, excess of fertilisers coming from agricultural run-off can cause ‘algae bloom’ in rivers. This phenomenon, again – in most part – is created by human activity, blocks sunlight and reduces oxygen in the water, making it difficult for salmon to survive.
Additionally, the increase of farmed salmon production has resulted in huge concentrations of sea lice, which multiply in the confined conditions of sea rearing cages. Wild Atlantic salmon smolts can be very vulnerable to being attacked by these lice.
Evidence is showing us that overfishing is also a huge threat to wild fish populations.
It is only by understanding the threats that salmon face, and the different factors that affect them, that we can make a sustainable impact on this iconic species and the rivers in which they roam.
But if this decline continues, the wild Atlantic salmon could become an endangered species in ten years’ time, disappearing from our waters altogether in just 20 or 30 years.
The Atlantic Salmon Trust is supporting research initiatives to better understand our smolts’ journey to sea. The findings from this research can help guide policy makers and river managers to create more focused and effective solutions, so that future generations don’t miss out on this iconic species.
It is only by uncovering this information and using the findings to mitigate the pressures on salmon, that we can better protect them and safeguard their future.
The fact that there are healthy salmon still migrating up our rivers today is a testament to the health of that river but also a celebration of the men and women who take care of it. I truly believe that if you take care of a river, and the creatures in it, it’ll take care of you.
It’s not going to be easy but when has anything worthwhile ever been easy?
Atlantic salmon could become an endangered species