Salmon stocks at breaking point

Modest overall rise masks river struggles

Rod catches of salmon rose 16% in 2024, but the modest improvement masks a deepening crisis. Only seven out of 64 major rivers in England and Wales are producing enough fish to sustain themselves.

The Environment Agency’s latest stock assessment, published in late September, presents a bleak picture. It reveals that five rivers – the Fowey, Hampshire Avon, Frome, Tamar and Dee – recorded their worst salmon returns ever last year, and only seven met breeding targets.

Angler contributions and catch-and-release practices

Anglers caught 6,011 salmon, up from 2023’s record low but still the third-lowest ever. The River Tyne dominated, producing 1,780 salmon, almost a third of the England and Wales total, followed by the Wear, Coquet and Eden. Wet weather maintained high river flows through spring and autumn, creating favourable conditions.

Catch-and-release efforts continued to support struggling populations, with anglers returning nearly 96% of salmon caught. Only 244 fish were killed. Released fish contributed roughly 11 million eggs to spawning populations, the EA estimates.

Sea-trout and commercial netting trends

Sea-trout catches fell slightly to 10,960 fish. Anglers released 91%.

Commercial netting continues its long decline. Netsmen took 404 salmon, all released bar one retained illegally in Wales, while the number of licences has collapsed from 1,026 in 1985 to just 121.