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Publication - Progress report

Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan: annual progress report 2025

Published
14 October 2026
From
Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, +4 more … Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy, Director of Environment and Forestry, Director of Marine
Directorate
Marine Directorate, +3 more … Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, Environment and Forestry Directorate, Offshore Wind Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Communities and third sector, Economy, +6 more … Energy, Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Law and order, Marine and fisheries, Public sector
ISBN
9781807753849

The third annual progress report under the Scottish wild salmon strategy implementation plan covering progress in 2025.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

2025 Catch Statistics

In 2025, Scottish rod fisheries reported a total catch of 28,020 wild-origin salmon, comprising 16,295 multi sea-winter salmon and 11,725 one sea-winter salmon. This is a decrease of 41% compared to 2024, representing the lowest rod catch on record since 1952, and is 68% of the previous five-year average (Figure 2).

The proportion of rod-caught salmon that was released was again 98% during the 2025 season. This remains the highest rate of catch and release across the North Atlantic and reflects both continued compliance with mandatory measures and the welcome commitment of anglers to practice catch and release on a voluntary basis in support of stock conservation.

The contribution of anglers extends beyond catch and release. Anglers, fishery owners, District Salmon Fishery Boards and fisheries trusts provide essential catch data, support monitoring and sampling programmes, contribute financially through permits and assessments, and deliver conservation work. This local knowledge, investment and effort form an important part of the evidence base and delivery capacity underpinning wild salmon management in Scotland.

The Official Salmon and sea trout fishery statistics 2025 are published on the Scottish Government website.

Figure 2: Annual number of salmon caught by rod since 1952, and annual number of salmon caught by rod and released since 1994 (thousands).
Line chart with two lines: one showing total rod catch of salmon increasing from 1952 until 2010 and decreasing since; the other showing released rod catch increasing from 1994 until 2010, and declining since. The total rod catch and released rod catch lines are converging.

Data source: 2025 Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics

Contact

Email: SalmonandRecreationalFisheries@gov.scot

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