Parr for the watercourse

A salmon parr discovered in the River Don near Sheffield represents the first evidence of natural breeding in the waterway since the early 1800s, offering cautious hope for the Yorkshire river.

The juvenile fish was found during routine electrofishing surveys by Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) volunteers, marking a milestone in the river’s restoration journey.

Industrial pollution and Victorian weirs had severed ancient migration routes, turning what was once a premier fishing river into a biological desert. Recovery began 35 years ago when improving conditions allowed DCRT co-founder Chris Firth MBE to spot the first returning adults.

Fish passes at Crimpsall Rock Ramp and Masborough have since reopened key stretches.

“For almost my entire life I had to witness the misery of this once prolific salmon fishery. Its recovery is beyond my wildest expectation,” said Mr Firth, calling the discovery “the culmination of my life’s work”.

Cautious optimism for the River Don

T&S Editor Andrew Flitcroft celebrated the discovery but cautioned: “One or two parr doesn’t make a salmon river. However, this discovery is testament to the work done to restore this once heavily polluted river, which served as an industrial drain. I recently witnessed the upper Don’s improvements and healthy stocks of trout and grayling, as documented in our September issue.”

The Trust now targets Oughtibridge’s twin weirs, with deeper channels planned to help young salmon reach the sea safely.

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