Aquatic

Atlantic Salmon River Habitat Restoration

Atlantic salmon depend on cold, well-oxygenated rivers with clean gravel beds for spawning, and their welfare is tied to river health.

Key Facts

Salmon require specific gravel substrate for spawning redds
Water temperatures above 23C cause heat stress in adult salmon
Barriers like weirs and culverts block upstream migration
Siltation from agriculture smothers eggs in spawning gravels
UK salmon populations are at critically low levels in many rivers

Welfare Considerations

Salmon blocked from spawning grounds experience physiological stress and reproductive failure. Elevated water temperatures cause heat stress and increased disease susceptibility. River restoration that removes barriers, reduces siltation, and restores riparian shade directly improves salmon welfare at population scale.

What You Can Do

Support river restoration charities removing migration barriers
Advocate for riparian buffer strips on agricultural land
Report pollution incidents to the Environment Agency
Choose sustainably sourced salmon to reduce pressure on wild stocks
Support catchment management approaches that prioritise river health