The Scottish government has announced that new funding of £500,000 will support the development of wild salmon conservation measures after conservation organisations warned the “iconic” national salmon species faces rapid decline.
The money will be used for two projects, the National Adult Sampling Plan which provides crucial data on wild salmon stock and the development of a standardised fisheries management plan template which can be used by all the fisheries management areas in Scotland.
The funding will be formally announced by the country’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon during the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation’s annual meeting, with international delegates and Scottish stakeholders present.
“I am looking forward to addressing NASCO delegates conference and highlighting the significant work that is being done in Scotland to reverse the decline in wild salmon stocks,” Gougeon said. “In addition to the measures we will take in Scotland, we are committed to supporting and pushing forward collective action in the international arena, so the young salmon leaving our rivers survive the many challenges they face on the high seas to return to their home river to spawn the next generation,” she added.
“Recently published salmon fishery statistics continue to confirm the downward trend in the numbers of wild salmon returning to Scottish rivers and we must now reinvigorate our collective efforts to ensure a positive future for the species.”
Salmon are affected by a wide range of pressures, some at sea, but many others acting within the Scottish freshwater and coastal environments, with a key contributory factor appearing to be climate change, according to recent studies.
Salmon are affected by a wide range of pressures, some at sea, but many others acting within the Scottish freshwater and coastal environments. A key contributory factor appears to be climate change.
The funding will be divided with £300,000 going to further develop a National Adult Sampling Programme, which seeks to better understand trends by monitoring salmon returning to Scottish rivers. £200,000 will go to development of fisheries management plans, looking to develop a standardised plan template that can be used across Scotland.
