The wild Atlantic salmon is in trouble. The number of salmon returning to their spawning grounds has fallen dramatically since the 1970s and wild Atlantic salmon could be lost from many of our rivers within our lifetime if we do not act now. This is not a localised issue. The decline in wild salmon stocks has occurred throughout its’ natural range although is more pronounced in southern regions.

Fisheries Management Scotland are working to highlight the wild salmon crisis to decision makers and are calling on all regulatory authorities urgently to place a renewed emphasis on the crucial importance of salmon conservation and do everything in their power to safeguard the species.

A range of human impacts, including climate change, are placing salmon at risk. There are many examples where positive interventions have already helped, but more must be done. We are working with our partners in the [Missing Salmon Alliance – link to a new page on our website – to be drafted], to coordinate our efforts in advocacy, research, monitoring and practical action in order to save our precious salmon.

Pressures

Atlantic salmon face a number of pressures throughout their lives in freshwater and in the marine environment. In recognition of the range of pressures that salmon face, and the need to address these pressures, the fisheries management community and Scottish Government identified a list of 12 groups of pressures. We have developed, in partnership with Marine Scotland and with significant input from our members, a [map-based process – link to pressures tool] for summarising where these pressures are impacting Scotland’s salmon.

More detail on some of the pressures faced by Atlantic salmon, and the work that we are doing to address them, can be found below.

 

Sub-pages (Title and explanatory text)

Image based links to the following pages

TO BE CONFIRMED – WE NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO USE A SIMILAR APPORACH TO THE CURRENT POLICY AREAS PAGE, OR SET THESE OUT ACCORDING TO THE STORYMAP – Possible preferred options are set out in red in the table below

Suggested Pages

Background – including links to the SG shiny apps on adult conservation and NEPS (Scottish Context part of the Story map).

Policy Areas – current headings	Pressures Tool – headings
Beaver Reintroductions ü	Obstacles to Fish Passage
Catch and Release	Exploitation of Wild Salmon ü
Diffuse Pollution	Water Quality* ü
Fish Farming** ü	Fish Health & Genetic Introgression
Fisheries Enforcement	Exploitation of Wild Salmon*** ü
Fish Movement/Stocking ü	Fish Health & Genetic Introgression
Hydro Electricity****	Water Quantity ü Obstacles to Fish Passage ü
Invasive non-native species	Invasive Non-native Species ü
Marine Renewables	Marine Developments ü
Predation	Predation ü
River Basin Management Planning*****	Water Quality ü Water Quantity ü Obstacles to Fish Passage ü In-stream & Riverbank Habitatü
Statutory Conservation Measures	Exploitation of Wild Salmon ü
Wind Farm Developments	Water Quality ü
	Water Temperature ü
	In-stream & Riverbank Habitat ü

 

*Consider an additional page on diffuse pollution, linking from water quality?

**Link straight to our landing page

***with clear linkage to the enforcement pages

**** Consider an additional page on hydro, linking from water quantity, and obstacles

*****Link to advocacy – SEPA