Atlantic salmon 2021: Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 14 No 4

4. Summary

This report presents the first national summary assessment of the pressures acting on wild Atlantic salmon. Pressure data were populated by fisheries managers, who are tasked locally with safeguarding and improving wild salmon in Scotland. The data provide a baseline from which to assess change in perceptions and highlight areas where local managers believe there to be a particular need for improved evidence and understanding. This information will inform policy development and decision making in relation to managing pressures on wild salmon.

It should be acknowledged that understanding of the impacts of individual pressures is incomplete. As such there was a need for expert judgement, which will necessarily be based on a number of assumptions given available information and evidence. In addition, the initial assessments which underpin this report were undertaken in 2019, with a short period of refresh in early 2021. Since then new evidence has become available including improved understanding of genetic introgression^[6] and the threats posed by climate change and water scarcity.^[7] The current report should be considered in this context and represents a snap shot in time. Nevertheless, these caveats are by no means intended to diminish the value of the exercise since management of natural resources almost invariably requires the pragmatic application of best available information at the time.

This report has focussed on providing a high level summary of pressures; the associated Shiny Application and online GIS provide more detailed spatial information that will support the development of local fisheries management plans and management action to improve habitat for salmon.