Salmon crisis in Wales: every monitored river classified at risk 2026

Key Points

• All principal salmon rivers in Wales have been rated as “at risk” in the 2025 stock assessment.
• The number of rod-caught salmon in 2025 was the lowest since records were kept in 1956 at 4,053 reported salmon in England and Wales.
• Climate change, degradation of habitats, migration obstacles and poor water quality are highlighted by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as major threats to Atlantic salmon.
• The situation is “deeply concerning” and not enough fish are returning from the sea to support populations, according to NRW’s Dr Ben Wilson.
• Salmon 4 Tomorrow, LIFE Dee River and Four Rivers for LIFE have been carried out to help with river restoration, including fish passageways and riparian habitat.
• These results coincide with UK-wide assessment where 92% of principal salmon rivers in England and Wales are “at risk”, the highest percentage since 2011.

Wales (Wales Times) September 17, 2026 – All monitored salmon rivers in Wales are now classified as “at risk”, according to the latest annual stock assessment, marking a new low for the iconic fish and prompting urgent calls for action from environmental officials.

Every principal salmon river assessed in the country has fallen below the Conservation Limit needed to sustain populations without continued intervention, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed. The 2025 assessment also recorded the lowest rod catches since records began in 1956, underlining the scale of the decline.

What does “at risk” mean for Wales’ salmon rivers?

The “at risk” classification indicates that a river’s salmon stock has a low probability (less than 5%) of meeting its Management Objective, which requires the Conservation Limit to be met or exceeded in at least four out of five years. In Wales, all 22 principal salmon rivers monitored were placed in this category for 2025, meaning none currently show signs of sustaining healthy salmon populations into the future without ongoing conservation measures.

Across England and Wales, just two of 64 principal salmon rivers assessed were estimated to have populations above their Conservation Limit in 2025, with 59 rivers (92%) classified as “at risk” – the highest proportion in the time-series that began in 2011. For Wales specifically, the proportion of rivers in the “at risk” category has generally increased over time, with very few classed as “not at risk” since 2011, and projections suggest all Welsh rivers will remain “at risk” in 2030 if current trends continue.

How low have salmon catches fallen in 2025?

The total declared rod catch in 2025 was 4,053 salmon (17.0 tonnes) across England and Wales, the lowest recorded since 1988 and down 33% from 2024, according to the joint assessment by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Environment Agency and NRW. Relative to the 2020–2024 average, rod catch numbers and weight were 42% and 43% lower respectively.

In Wales, the decline is reflected in local monitoring: the Nation.Cymru report noted the 2025 assessment recorded the lowest rod catches since records began in 1956, reinforcing the severity of the crisis. The South Wales Argus, citing the same assessment, highlighted that this marks the lowest rod catches on record, further underscoring the ongoing decline.

Why are salmon populations declining in Wales?

NRW said Atlantic salmon are facing pressures throughout their lifecycle, including climate change, deterioration of habitats, barriers preventing migration and problems with water quality. Dr Ben Wilson, NRW’s Principal Fisheries Advisor, stated:

“The picture for salmon in Wales remains deeply concerning. All of our assessed salmon rivers are now classified as ‘at risk’, and too few salmon are returning from the sea to sustain healthy populations into the future.”

Salmon migrate from rivers to the sea before returning to freshwater to spawn, meaning conditions in both marine and freshwater environments can affect their survival. Lower river flows, higher water temperatures and reduced oxygen levels – exacerbated by record-low rainfall and heatwaves in summer 2026 – have placed additional stress on already threatened fish species, according to earlier NRW warnings cited by local outlets.

What is being done to restore salmon rivers in Wales?

NRW said it is working with partners across Wales to restore habitats, improve fish passage, strengthen river resilience and give salmon the best possible chance of recovery. Three major fish passage schemes delivered through the Salmon 4 Tomorrow programme have improved access to more than 50km of river habitat for migratory fish.

Other restoration projects have improved access to more than 33km of river and enhanced more than 42km of uk/local/cardiff/riverside/">riverside habitat, including barrier removal and tree planting to increase the resilience of rivers. Work is also being carried out through the LIFE Dee River and Four Rivers for LIFE projects, which have focused on habitat restoration, barrier removal and planting thousands of trees.

The latest assessment comes shortly after the publication of the Climate Resilient Fisheries Strategy 2026–2031, which sets out plans to support fish populations and sustainably managed fisheries in Wales. Dr Wilson added:

“Our new Climate Resilient Fisheries Strategy provides a clear framework for this work. It will help us focus our efforts where they can make the greatest difference for fish populations, river ecosystems and the communities that care about them.”

How does Wales compare with England in salmon stock status?

In England, 37 principal salmon rivers (88%) were assessed as “at risk” in 2025, exceeding all other years in the time-series, while one river (the Tyne) was classified as “not at risk”. However, projections indicate that none of the English rivers will retain “not at risk” status by 2030 if recent trends persist.

For Wales, all 22 principal salmon rivers (100%) were classified as “at risk” in 2025, with projections suggesting all will remain in this category in 2030. The joint report noted that egg deposition levels in 2025 were above the Conservation Limit in only two of 64 principal salmon rivers in England and Wales (3%), the lowest since 1993.

Background of the particular development

The annual salmon stock assessment for England and Wales has been produced since 1997, with NRW taking over responsibility for salmon management and regulation in Wales from 2013. The 2025 report marks a transition to a streamlined HTML format to improve accessibility and focus on key messages, following user feedback that previous reports were complex and difficult to navigate.

Historically, salmon stocks in Wales have shown a gradual deterioration, with very few rivers classed as “not at risk” since 2011. The 2025 assessment represents the first time all monitored Welsh salmon rivers have been classified as “at risk” simultaneously, reflecting a culmination of long-term pressures including overfishing (now heavily restricted), habitat loss, climate change and marine survival issues.

Prediction: how this development can affect anglers, conservationists and local communities

If current trends continue, the classification of all Welsh salmon rivers as “at risk” is likely to tighten fishing regulations further, with catch-and-release already mandatory across Wales under byelaws in force from 2020–2030. Anglers may face more restricted seasons, reduced bag limits and increased monitoring, while some rivers could be designated as conservation priorities where fishing is discouraged entirely.

Conservation groups and local communities that value salmon as a cultural and ecological icon may see increased pressure to fund and support restoration projects, with the Climate Resilient Fisheries Strategy 2026–2031 setting a framework for targeted action. Without significant improvements in marine survival, habitat quality and river resilience, projections suggest Welsh salmon stocks will remain depleted through 2030, potentially affecting tourism, local economies and biodiversity in river catchments.