Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan: annual progress report 2025
The third annual progress report under the Scottish wild salmon strategy implementation plan covering progress in 2025.
Introduction
The Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy and its accompanying Implementation Plan 2023 to 2028 were published in 2022 and 2023 respectively in response to a sustained decline in Scotland’s wild Atlantic salmon populations.
This is the third annual progress report against the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan and covers progress made during 2025. Previous progress reports are available via the following web links 2023; 2024.
The Wild Salmon Strategy Delivery Group oversees and directs the delivery of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy and its accompanying Implementation Plan. The Delivery Group also reviews and shapes the programme of work in light of new evidence and other policy developments on an ongoing basis. This dynamic, adaptive approach ensures the programme of work to support salmon restoration can be adjusted as necessary.
The Delivery Group is comprised of representatives from the following organisations: Angling Scotland, the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST), Crown Estate Scotland, Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS), the Galloway Rivers Trust (formerly Galloway Fisheries Trust), NatureScot, the River Tweed Commission, Scottish Canals, Scottish Environment Link, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Forestry, the Spey Catchment Initiative and the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate.
The Delivery Group met three times during the reporting period and continues to oversee progress of the Implementation Plan.
The Wild Salmon Strategy Science and Evidence Board provides scientific and evidential advice to inform delivery of the Implementation Plan and met four times in 2025 to consider key evidence and develop recommendations.
Delivery of the Implementation Plan is reliant on the collective contribution of relevant public bodies, District Salmon Fishery Boards, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts, anglers, land managers, academic partners and non-governmental organisations. Many of the 59 actions reported here have been delivered through partnership working, local knowledge, volunteer effort and charitable funding undertaken across Scotland’s river catchments and coastal waters.