Wild Atlantic Salmon are in Crisis 

Wild Atlantic salmon are an iconic species in Scotland, but numbers have been declining in recent years across their North Atlantic range. The Scottish Government 2023 catch statistics reported the lowest rod catch for wild Atlantic salmon since records began in 1952, and signal that Scotland’s salmon and sea trout populations remain in a critical state. In the latest species reassessment by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, released in December 2023, Atlantic Salmon have been reclassified from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Endangered’ in Great Britain (as a result of a 30-50% decline in British populations since 2006 and 50-80% projected between 2010-2025.)  

Wild Salmon Strategy 

In response to this crisis, the Scottish Government launched the Wild Salmon Strategy in 2022 which sets out a framework to tackle the wide range of pressures acting on wild salmon. The accompanying Implementation Plan published in February 2023, identifies over sixty actions to be taken over a five-year period to achieve a vision of flourishing wild salmon populations.  

Scottish Government are leading on the overall delivery of the actions within the Implementation Plan with support from a network of delivery partners including Fisheries Management Scotland: 

  • Marine Directorate 
  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency 
  • NatureScot 
  • Crown Estate Scotland 
  • Scottish Forestry 
  • Scottish Environment LINK 
  • Angling Scotland 
  • Fisheries Management Scotland 
  • District Salmon Fishery Boards and Trusts 
  • Atlantic Salmon Trust 

A Delivery Group has been established with representatives of all delivery partners to oversee and direct delivery, reporting and ongoing review of the actions to protect and conserve wild salmon.  

Fisheries Management Scotland and Scotland's Wild Salmon Strategy 

At Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS), we're committing to putting wild salmon first. Our role in delivering the Wild Salmon Strategy is multifaceted, combining on-the-ground action with policy development and collaborative partnerships. Explore how we're supporting delivery of the strategy. 

Staying Informed 

We're dedicated to keeping you updated on our wild salmon conservation efforts. Our Annual Progress Reports offers a comprehensive overview of the Delivery Group’s progress. For more frequent updates, follow us on social media where we share regular insights into our ongoing work and latest discoveries. 

Get Involved  

We invite you to join us in delivering Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy. Whether you're an angler, a conservationist, or simply someone who cares about Scotland's natural heritage, there's a role for you in protecting our wild fish populations.