Wildlife

Wild Salmon River Welfare and Conservation

Atlantic salmon face a gauntlet of welfare threats during their complex lifecycle, from river barriers to ocean warming and sea lice from fish farms.

Key Facts

UK Atlantic salmon populations have declined by over 70% since the 1970s
River barriers prevent salmon from reaching spawning grounds upstream
Sea temperatures above 23C cause physiological stress in Atlantic salmon
Sea lice from fish farms infect wild salmon smolts during downstream migration
Catch-and-release angling is now standard to reduce direct mortality

Welfare Considerations

Wild salmon face welfare challenges at every life stage: exhausting river migrations, predation, disease, and pollution. The near-collapse of some populations means surviving individuals face increasingly degraded environments. River restoration and farm lice control are urgent welfare and conservation priorities.

What You Can Do

Support organisations restoring rivers and removing fish passage barriers
Advocate for stricter sea lice management around wild salmon migration routes
Choose Scottish or Irish salmon from certified low-lice farms