England’s salmon population reaches record low
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The Environment Agency (EA), Cefas, and Natural Resources Wales reported that salmon stocks in England are at their lowest level since record-keeping began.
Recent assessments show 95% of England’s principal salmon rivers cannot sustain their populations, a rise from 88% last year. Historically, 15 to 20 young salmon out of every 100 migrating to sea would return as adults, but now only one or two do.
The decline mirrors a trend across the North Atlantic, with much of the problem occurring at sea and beyond any single country’s control. However, the EA is working to improve conditions within England by removing obstacles preventing salmon from reaching spawning areas, addressing pollution, and regulating water usage. Analysis shows that water quantity, water quality, and habitat damage are driving the decline in English rivers.
To address these issues by 2032, the EA committed to restoring 2,282 hectares of peatland and improving water flow from reservoirs. The agency will also increase inspections of farms and wastewater treatment facilities and fund over 800 pollution reduction projects. Furthermore, the EA plans to remove or improve 105 barriers to salmon migration, restore 252 habitat sites, and plant trees along 648 hectares of riverbank.
Successes on the River Trent and River Ouse, where targeted improvements brought salmon back, demonstrate that recovery is possible.
