Wildlife Welfare

Wild Salmon River Habitat Restoration

Restoring river habitats for wild salmon populations improves the welfare of individual fish by reducing obstacles, improving water quality, and providing appropriate spawning conditions.

Key Facts

Over 90% of European salmon habitat has been degraded or lost
Dam removal is the most effective single intervention for salmon recovery
Fine sediment from agriculture smothers spawning gravels reducing egg survival
Temperature increases from climate change exceed salmon thermal tolerance in some rivers
Fish passes vary widely in effectiveness and welfare impact on migrating fish

Welfare Considerations

Individual salmon negotiating degraded rivers face exhausting obstacle courses that reduce their welfare and reproductive success. River restoration measures including dam removal, habitat rehabilitation, and water quality improvement directly benefit individual fish welfare alongside population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support river restoration and dam removal campaigns
Learn about salmon habitat requirements and current threats
Advocate for strong water quality standards protecting salmon river systems