19th May: Action needed to save Scotland’s wild salmon following extinction threat

Wild salmon leaping through our rivers are an iconic part of Scotland’s heritage. And the mighty River Spey is perhaps the most prized of all our fishing waterways, rightly famed the world over.

That’s why rocker-turned- eco-warrior Feargal Sharkey is spot on with his warning that “our salmon are under threat, and our rivers are under threat”.

The stark reality is Atlantic wild salmon could be extinct in 20 years.

Scotland’s heritage as a haven for wild salmon – vital to our economy and tourism – is under threat.

Sharkey’s tale of meeting American fishing enthusiasts travelling here to catch a salmon, only to leave without even seeing one, should serve as a wake-up call for how serious this is.

Experts say Atlantic salmon numbers in Scotland and the UK have sunk to “crisis” levels.