Record Low Salmon Numbers Recorded in England: A Cause for Concern

Recent findings from the Environment Agency (EA), Cefas, and Natural Resources Wales have revealed that salmon populations in England have plummeted to their lowest levels since records began. The Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2025 indicates that a staggering 95% of primary salmon rivers are now falling below the thresholds necessary for sustaining viable populations. This marks an increase from 88% in the previous year’s assessment, representing the highest recorded figure to date. Historically, 15 to 20 young salmon migrating to the sea would return as adults; currently, this figure has dwindled to just one or two.

Wider Implications Across the North Atlantic

This alarming trend is not confined to England; it is a widespread issue observable throughout the North Atlantic region. Many of the factors contributing to this decline stem from challenges at sea that are beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation. Nevertheless, the EA is proactively addressing these concerns by implementing measures to eliminate barriers obstructing salmon from accessing their spawning grounds, intensifying efforts against pollution and illegal water extraction, restoring river ecosystems and wetlands, and advocating for collaborative international strategies to counteract marine threats.

Research has identified that the decline in salmon stocks can be attributed to issues related to water quantity, water quality, and degraded habitats. As part of its commitment to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), the EA has outlined ambitious plans to address these three critical issues by 2032.

Commitments for Restoration and Monitoring

Under these new commitments, the EA aims to restore 2,282 hectares of peatland and enhance water flow below reservoirs to ensure that rivers maintain adequate water levels, even during periods of drought. The organisation will also rigorously monitor water companies and other users to guarantee that they do not extract more water than rivers can sustain.

In tandem with these initiatives, the EA intends to increase inspections of farms and wastewater treatment facilities, while funding over 800 projects aimed at reducing pollution from wastewater. Additionally, the plan includes clearing or improving 105 barriers preventing salmon from reaching their spawning habitats, restoring ecosystems at 252 sites, and planting trees along 648 hectares of riverbanks to maintain cooler and cleaner water for the fish.

Collective Action for Salmon Recovery

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, stated, “These figures are stark. Where 15 to 20 salmon once returned from every 100 that went to sea, now it’s as few as one or two. Recovery requires collective action. On the Trent and the Ouse, targeted initiatives have already brought salmon back, and we now need to go further to see this pattern replicated across the country.”

This year, the EA and its partners have pledged to restore over 2,000 hectares of peatland, enhance fish passage at more than 100 migration barriers, and complete over 250 habitat restoration projects along principal salmon rivers by 2032.

Success Stories in Salmon Restoration

Salmon have begun to return to the River Trent and River Ouse, thanks to the EA’s efforts to enhance water quality and eliminate migration barriers. These developments illustrate that recovery is feasible when key pressures are effectively addressed. The EA is also collaborating with partners nationwide to facilitate salmon recovery. In Yorkshire, the Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership is working to reconnect rivers and reopen fish passage, allowing migratory fish access to habitats that have been inaccessible for generations. The resurgence of salmon in certain sections of the River Don in recent years underscores the potential for recovery when rivers are restored and migration pathways are re-established.

Later this year, the EA is set to release the latest round of River Basin Management Plans, which will outline the necessity of accelerating efforts to remove unnecessary weirs and barriers that hinder fish migration, in order to safeguard fish populations.