Aquatic Animals

Wild Salmon Habitat and Upland Management

Upland land management through grouse moor burning, forestry, and grazing significantly affects river quality and salmon spawning success.

Key Facts

Peat burning on grouse moors releases sediment that smothers salmon redds
Mature riparian woodland shades streams maintaining cool temperatures for salmon
Overgrazing causes erosion that reduces spawning habitat quality
Rewilding projects demonstrate rapid improvement in river quality following land use change
Atlantic salmon require cold, clean, well-oxygenated gravel beds for spawning

Welfare Considerations

Land management upstream determines river conditions for salmon. Sedimentation from burning and overgrazing smothers eggs and reduces spawning site quality. Riparian woodland restoration cools rivers, reduces flood peaks, and filters agricultural run-off. Managing land for salmon welfare requires working with farming and estate management communities to align land management incentives with river ecosystem health.

What You Can Do

Support rewilding projects including riparian woodland restoration
Advocate for restrictions on upland burning that damages rivers
Choose salmon from rivers with documented habitat improvement programmes
Support the Salmon and Trout Conservation charity in its river advocacy
Participate in river monitoring to document habitat quality changes over time