UK wild Atlantic salmon stocks on the brink of collapse, Environment Agency warns

26 Jul 2022 --- Wild Atlantic salmon stocks have dropped to the lowest levels on record and are nearing crisis proportions, the latest stock assessment by the Environment Agency (EA) reports. If urgent action is not undertaken, salmon stocks could be lost from rivers in this generation.

The latest stock assessment report from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales shows that salmon stock is no longer at sustainable levels. The “at risk” ratio has risen by a further 31% from 48% in 2020 bringing the emergency levels to 74%.

“The latest salmon stock assessment is greatly concerning and it is imperative that this decline is halted. We are committed to supporting work to stabilize these threatened stocks and to implement the Salmon Five Point Approach, which addresses the key pressures facing salmon,” a Department of Environmental and Affairs (Defra) spokesperson tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

The figures reflected involve at least 20 salmon rivers in the South West and North West of the UK and Wales. 

Earlier this year, the World Trade Organization urged European Union member countries to pool trade agreements and fishing subsidies to help the international community recover and tackle the ongoing challenges. 

Meager salmon stock improvements
Only the River Tyne falls within the “not at risk” category. The river has improved due to better water quality in the estuary and action against barriers to migration. In addition, fish pass improvements and habitat restoration initiatives on the River Don have enabled salmon to return.

UK rivers are traditional breeding grounds for Atlantic salmon; however, many factors impact their numbers at freshwater and marine sites. Climate change is leading to rising sea and river temperatures and overfishing has impacted salmon stocks globally. 

Water quality in rivers and estuaries can also affect the fish life cycle and create barriers that stop salmon from traveling upstream.

“We are going further and faster than any other government to protect and enhance the health of our rivers and seas and the new Environment Act puts in place more protections against water pollution than ever before,” the Defra spokesperson outlines.

Five-point approachUK salmon stock is significantly below sustainable levels.
The EA has instituted the Salmon Five Point Approach to remove barriers to migration, with 19 fish passes improved in the last year. The agency is also improving the water quality and reducing the exploitation of salmon through net and rod fishing.

“In 2021, 53 schemes were completed that will bring benefits to salmon; 37 of these were on our main salmon rivers and 16 on recovering salmon rivers. Fifty new agricultural officers, funded by Defra, have also been appointed to work with the agricultural community to address diffuse and acute water quality issues,” says Kevin Austin, deputy director, agriculture, fisheries and the natural environment, EA. 

The Salmon Five Point Approach has been jointly developed and committed to by a wide range of partners, which include government, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, the Angling Trust, River Trusts, the Wild Trout Trust and the Institute of Fisheries Management. 

Relief efforts show dismal results
In 2019, the EA closed salmon net fisheries in the UK until 2029. A combination of voluntary and mandatory controls achieved an overall catch and release rate of 95% in rod fisheries. Further options are being considered to ensure that all remaining rivers categorized as “at risk” implement a 100% catch and release rate.

In the last year, the EA has improved 19 fish passages at weirs or barriers across UK rivers giving salmon better access to the Severn, Ribble, Camel, Tyne and Test. A new fish pass at Diglis Weir on the River Severn has been completed as part of the Unlocking the Severn project, restoring 254 kilometers of river and aiding migration.

“We have seen some real successes through our work with partners, particularly on the river Don and Tyne, but much more progress is needed,” says Austin.

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

Furthermore, fish populations are in a far worse state than previously estimated, according to the Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index, the most extensive independent assessment of global fish stocks to date. The report finds that a tenth of fish stocks globally are now on the brink of collapse, reduced to just 10% of their original size. 

By Inga de Jong