Page 8 - Ceufad Autumn 2022

WELSH SALMON AND SEA TROUT

ARE AT RISK, HOW CAN WE HELP?

ARTICLE : BEN WILSON
(PRINCIP AL FISHERIES AD VISOR F OR NR W)

Salmon and sea trout (sewin) are iconic species in Wales,
requiring high quality freshwater habitats to thrive and are a
key indicator of the environmental quality of river catchments.
Unfortunately, the most recent data from 2021 shows that
returning runs of adult salmon and sea trout are at an all-time
low, and we all need to act to protect these vulnerable fish.
Based on data derived from catch returns, NRW assesses the
status of salmon stocks to determine whether they are “At Risk”
or “Not at Risk” of achieving their “conservation limits” i.e. the
number of fish required to sustain the population in each river.
Results from the latest fisheries stock assessments show that
of the 23 principal salmon rivers in Wales, 21 rivers (91%) are now
categorised as being “At Risk”, and 3 (9%) are deemed “Probably at
Risk”. No salmon stocks are in the “Not at Risk” categories.
Worryingly, sea trout (which are usually thought to be more
robust) are also showing unsustainable levels of decline. Wales
has 33 rivers that support sea trout fisheries, only 4 of which (12%)
are deemed to be as “Probably Not at Risk”, while the remaining Salmon status on the 23 principal salmon rivers of Wales
are either “Probably at Risk” (24%) or “At Risk” (64%). No rivers are
deemed to be “Not at Risk”
These data represent the worst level of salmon and sea trout
stock performance recorded in Wales and is of major concern to
anyone that cares about our unique river ecosystems, and the
wildlife they support.
There is no one single cause for these continued declines, but
reduced sea survival is a major factor, with as few as only 1 to 2%
of fish returning successfully to home waters. This means we
have to protect those fish that do return, so that they can spawn
successfully and contribute to the next generation.
NRW and fishers are doing their bit to help. In 2020 we
introduced new fishing byelaws to help protect salmon and sea
trout across Wales, and we have seen net and rod fishers react
positively to these. Salmonids being a ‘cold water species’ are
particularly susceptible to climate change, we need to do more
though, such as improving river water quality and addressing
acute and diffuse agricultural and Water Industry pollution
incidents, removing barriers to migration and controlling Sea trout status on the 23 principal salmon rivers of Wales
unsustainable predation. We also need to protect our river
ecosystems from invasive non-native species. Many of these
actions are published in NRW’s Salmon and sea trout Plan of
Action-2020 , which sets out in nine key themes how we need to
tackle the salmonid emergency.

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