Atlantic Salmon in Crisis

Atlantic Salmon in Crisis

We are deeply concerned about the state of the Atlantic salmon and its potential fate.  On its current trajectory there is a real risk it could become extinct in some of our rivers, especially in the south, within  20 years.

In May we published our position statement on the conservation of Atlantic salmon. We also wrote a letter  to the fisheries ministers of the governments of each England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Letter May 2023

So far we have received replies from the administrations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales which can be read below

Those replies provide all the assurances that you’d expect governments to say – describing the plans they have in place to reverse the salmon’s decline.  However, the decline has been known for decades, and actions plans have been in place for at least 20 years. And the salmon  continues to decline.  We are considering our response to each, but we will maintain maximum pressure to seek to ensure that each government is doing everything possible, including just enforcing current legislation, to reverse the salmon’s fortunes.

Salmon reply Defra and NI June 2023

Salmon reply Scottish Govt June 2023

Salmon reply Welsh Govt June 2023

Reply from Irish Government to IFM Letter on Salmon Conservation

You can see our responses to the respective letters below

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Follow up Sep 2023 England

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Follow up Sep 2023 Ireland

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Follow up Sep 2023 NI

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Follow up Sep 2023 Scotland

Fisheries Ministers Salmon Follow up Sep 2023 Wales

We also produced an episode of our podcast Fisheries in Focus looking at the plight of salmon and what the future holds. You can listen to the episode here