Record Low for England’s Atlantic Salmon Population

England’s Atlantic salmon population has plummeted to a record low, Reuters reported citing the Environment Agency (EA).

Approximately 90% of key salmon rivers in England are now classified as “at risk” or “probably at risk,” indicating that salmon numbers fall below sustainable levels. The decline is attributed to agricultural pollution, chemical runoff, and inadequate wastewater management, prompting calls for action from farmers and industries.

EA Chair Alan Lovell highlighted that salmon returns have dropped from an estimated 1.4 million four decades ago to just a third of that figure today. The provisional rod catch last year was 4,911 fish, a 23% decrease from 2022 and the lowest since records began in 1988. The EA noted similar trends in Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, and Canada, but emphasized that the UK has seen the most significant decline. New legislation, the Water (Special Measures) Bill, aims to enhance the EA’s ability to hold polluters accountable.