Wild salmon strategy and implementation plan: progress

Introduction

Atlantic salmon is often referred to as King of Fish, reflecting its important role in Scotland both culturally and economically with angling making a key contribution to many rural areas. Catches of salmon in Scotland have been recorded since 1952. Numbers of wild Atlantic salmon returning to Scotland’s coasts continue to decline, a pattern repeated across the salmon’s North Atlantic range. Wild salmon encounter a range of pressures which impact their survival including the effects of climate change.

Strategy and implementation plan

Against this backdrop, the Wild Salmon Strategy sets out how to tackle the wide range of pressures on wild salmon in river, on the coast and at sea. The Strategy Implementation Plan 2023-2028 identifies collective action for wild salmon to be taken by government, businesses and charitable sectors. Work to protect the species is an example of our commitment to tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Implementation Plan Delivery Group

The Delivery Group brings together a wide range of stakeholders to provide insight and expertise to help shape the progress towards the delivery of the Implementation Plan.

Local delivery

District Salmon Fishery Boards (DSFBs) are statutory bodies responsible for the protection and development of salmon fisheries. Across Scotland DSFBs and associated charitable Trusts undertake a programme of measures in support of salmon conservation. Important ongoing investment made by fishery owners and anglers makes a significant contribution to delivering the outcomes of the Wild Salmon Strategy.

Science and research

A Science and Evidence Board brings together experts that advise on monitoring, integrated data gathering and provides evidence for policy development at national scale and for management at local level.

Annual progress report

A progress report summarises the progress made towards delivery of the fifty-nine actions contained within the Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan. This year marks the third annual publication of the report, highlights from the 2025 report include:

Water quality

• reducing diffuse pollution and improving water quality through SEPA working with farmers to implement good land management practices

In-river habitat improvement

• the Peatland ACTION Partnership restored over 15,000 hectares of degraded peatland in 2025-2026, the highest annual delivery recorded by the partnership and bringing the total area restored through Peatland ACTION since its launch in 2012 to 81,000 hectares

• 28 barriers removed or eased to date across Scotland’s rivers, opening up 1300 kilometres of inaccessible habitat for migratory fish

Predation: Seal-salmon interactions

• we published a review of the operation of the seal licensing system and are now actively progressing action to support the recommendations put forward in the review
• trials of an automated seal detect and deter system in the river North Esk were completed in early 2025. Read the report of this research. Work is in progress to test the practicality and efficacy of the deployment of this device in wider, higher flow-rate riverine systems.

Increasing poaching penalties

• the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 increased financial penalties for the most serious fish poaching offences and allowing for certain penalties to be applied on a ‘per-fish’ basis
• commencement of these provisions is being considered in light of any wider arrangements made to align penalties across the border rivers (Tweed and Esk) with the rest of Scotland's rivers

Angling

• refreshing Conservation of Salmon Regulations outlining where mandatory catch and release must be practised during the 2026 fishing season

Coastal environment

• continued implementation of the SEPA sea lice regulatory framework for managing the interaction between sea lice from marine fish farm developments and wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland.

Marine migration

• understanding the marine migration patterns of wild salmon, through further work of the West Coast Tracking Project (a partnership between Atlantic Salmon Trust, Fisheries Management Scotland and Marine Directorate) is complete. Analysis of the data collected is being conducted and prepared for publication.

Marine Fund Scotland Investment

•  the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) has awarded £1.5m to projects benefitting wild salmon in 2025 to 2026, bringing the total since 2021 to over £5.5 million