Provisional statistics from the Scottish salmon and sea trout fisheries for the 2025 season were published on Friday 27th February. The statistics show that only 28,020 wild-origin salmon and 13,025 adult sea trout were caught in Scotland by rod and line. If these figures are confirmed when the official statistics are published later this year, they will represent the lowest catches since records began, exceeding the previous record low in 2023.
2025 was an incredibly dry year, with significant water scarcity in many Scottish east coast river systems. The weather will have had an impact on catches, however the underlying downward trend in catches over time is extremely concerning.
Dr Alan Wells, CEO of Fisheries Management Scotland said, “The publication of the provisional catch statistics for the 2025 season reaffirms the need for urgent action to protect and restore Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout. Scotland’s policy makers and regulators must commit to urgent coordinated action to address the pressures acting at all life stages of wild salmon and sea trout.
“Water scarcity was a key factor in 2025, and we are calling on SEPA to act swiftly to create a just transition to more sustainable abstraction practice to protect environmental flows and support aquatic life and river habitats.
“Today we launch our manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Elections, and we hope that these provisional statistics will act as a catalyst for further action at a suitable pace and scale to reverse the current downward trends. Our manifesto calls on all political parties to commit to the full delivery of Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy and identifies our priorities to restore the balance regarding species interactions, salmon-friendly energy developments and addressing pressures in freshwater and at sea.”
