Wildlife

Wild Salmon Welfare and Thermal Stress

Rising river temperatures from climate change are causing thermal stress and mortality in wild salmon populations.

Key Facts

Salmon are cold-water species that die when temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius
Summer river temperature is now regularly exceeding lethal thresholds in many rivers
Thermal stress compromises immune function and disease resistance before death
Riparian tree planting reduces river temperature by providing shade

Welfare Considerations

Salmon in thermally stressed rivers experience physiological distress as temperatures rise above tolerance thresholds, causing metabolic disruption and immune suppression. Pre-spawn mortality occurs when thermally compromised adults cannot complete their migration. The welfare harm is both individual and population-level, with streams losing entire year classes during extreme summers.

What You Can Do

Support riparian tree planting programs cooling rivers
Advocate for water abstraction limits protecting river flow and temperature
Donate to wild salmon conservation programs
Support climate action policies protecting cold water habitats