❄Wild Salmon Connections

Wild salmon are in crisis. Atlantic salmon are now an endangered species in Great Britain. They have declined by around 70% in the last 25 years, and there is no sign of recovery. In Norway, Atlantic salmon stocks have more than halved since the 1980s. In the Pacific, many wild salmon populations are declining, and fish have been getting smaller, so there are fewer eggs to start the next generation. These magnificent fish are in danger of becoming extinct. The consequences cannot be underestimated. Wild salmon are a keystone species. They are essential for the health of our wider environment. Animals from bears to the freshwater pearl mussel depend on wild salmon for their survival. And they matter to us, too. Wild salmon have been part of the human story for millennia. They are important culturally, spiritually and economically. This is a crisis caused by human activity. The agriculture, forestry and water industries pollute our rivers. Dams prevent wild salmon from migrating to their spawning grounds. Parasites and escapes from aquaculture threaten the wild salmon in rivers and coasts. At sea, salmon survival is affected by climate change and bycatch. Wild salmon are in crisis, but there is hope, if we act now. Reducing pollution will provide cold, clean water for people and nature. Restoring river catchments will improve habitat for wildlife and local communities. Action to address climate change and biodiversity loss will also help safeguard wild salmon for future generations. At Wild Salmon Connections, we are urging immediate action. The Missing Salmon Alliance and our partners will work together to reduce impacts from industry to provide cold, clean water in rivers and coasts. Restore river catchments to create a healthy environment. Protect salmon at sea to safeguard the number of fish returning to our rivers. Wild salmon are in crisis, but there is hope. We must commit to bold action, and it must start now.