The second annual progress report under the Scottish wild salmon strategy implementation plan covering progress in 2024.

Progress across each of the six thematic areas in the Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan is summarised below. Detail on each of the actions is provided later in the Appendix.

1. Improving the condition of rivers and giving salmon free access to cold, clean water (27 actions)

During the reporting period, SEPA scoped 73 barriers to fish migration and 16 advanced to the design and licensing stage. Works to ease passage were completed on 6 barriers, bringing the total eased to 26.

Through Scotland’s River Basin Management Plans to date, 1400 kilometres of previously inaccessible habitat has been opened through the removal and easement of barriers to fish migration.

SEPA also undertook over 600 farm compliance visits to tackle diffuse pollution.

Juvenile salmon habitat is expected to benefit from recent updates to forestry guidance which include the revised UK Forestry Standard which came into effect in October 2024, prompting a subsequent minor revision of buffer stipulations in the UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide on Managing the Water Environment in January 2025.

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